Child maltreatment and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) often cooccur and are related to negative socioemotional outcomes; however, limited research differentiates how maltreatment versus other ACEs predict such outcomes. These efforts are necessary to determine whether cumulative ACE screening efforts best predict those at risk for poor outcomes. We examined cumulative childhood ACEs, cumulative maltreatment subtypes, and adult attachment quality in 379 young and middle-aged adults. This sample enabled comparison between emerging adults and older adults who have navigated additional developmental tasks that may counteract the effects of early ACEs. More ACEs and maltreatment experiences predicted insecure anxious, avoidant, and fearful attachment styles; however, maltreatment failed to predict unique variance in attachment quality beyond other ACEs. Results suggest that maltreatment may be best categorized as part of a general cumulative risk profile predicting poor socioemotional outcomes. Findings support burgeoning trends in medical and social service settings assessing ACEs using simple dichotomous screening tools to identify those requiring intervention and support services.

中文翻译：

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多重虐待和童年不良经历：探索对依恋质量的累积威胁。

儿童虐待和其他不良儿童经历（ACEs）经常发生，并与负面的社会情绪结果有关；但是，有限的研究区分了虐待与其他ACE相比如何预测此类结果。这些努力对于确定ACE累积筛查努力是否能最好地预测那些可能出现不良预后的人是必要的。我们检查了379名年轻和中年成年人中的累积儿童期ACE，累积性虐待亚型和成年人依恋质量。该样本使新兴成年人和老年人之间的比较成为可能，他们已经解决了可能抵消早期ACE的影响的其他发育任务。更多的ACE和虐待经历预示着不安全的焦虑，回避和恐惧的依恋方式；然而，虐待未能预测除其他ACE之外依恋质量的独特差异。结果表明，将虐待最好地归类为预测不良社会情感结局的一般累积风险概况的一部分。研究结果支持使用简单的二分筛查工具来评估需要干预和支持服务的人，从而在评估ACEs的医疗和社会服务设置中迅速发展的趋势。