Psychological pathways from childhood maltreatment to inflammation among midlife and older adults

Childhood abuse and neglect have been linked to increased inflammation in adulthood. Psychological pathways that lead from abuse and neglect to inflammation have been seldom identified. Abuse and neglect may impact traits such as trait anger and trait anxiety, which in turn, influence emotion regulation thus leading to a psychological cascade that results in heightened levels of inflammation.

Trait anxiety and trait anger, and suppression and reappraisal were examined as pathways between abuse and neglect and inflammatory biomarkers, including interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Longitudinal data from the Midlife Development in the United States study were used to analyze a sample of 317 adults within a structural equation modeling framework.

Neglect was associated with elevated levels of C-reactive protein through higher levels of trait anger and higher levels of emotional suppression. The effects of abuse were not significant.

Findings of the study indicate that experiences of childhood neglect, but not abuse, appear to initiate a psychological cascade that results in elevated C-reactive protein. Neglect leads to raised levels of trait anger which, in turn, increases emotional suppression. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).