Examining Multi-Domain Resilience Among Maltreated and Non-Maltreated Youths: A Prospective Longitudinal Study

While maltreatment is clearly associated with an elevated risk for depression in later life, not all maltreated youths develop depression. This study examined whether maltreated youths who exhibit single-domain resilience (low levels of depression) simultaneously demonstrate multi-domain resilience in fundamental adaptive systems, including interpersonal functioning and violence, substance abuse/dependency, physical health, and socioeconomic domains. Trajectories of depression (across ages 13-32) in maltreated and non-maltreated individuals were modeled using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. “Low,” “increasing,” and “declining” depression trajectories in both maltreated and non-maltreated individuals were identified. Yet, maltreated individuals in the “low” trajectory still had lower romantic relationship satisfaction, more exposure to intimate partner and sexual violence, more alcohol and marijuana abuse/dependency, and lower educational attainment relative to non-maltreated individuals in the “low” trajectory. Focusing on a single domain (i.e., depression) of resilience may obscure other impairments that maltreated children face in adulthood.