Exploring relationship among child maltreatment experience in childhood and behavior problems as young adults: Role of social support among college students in Hong Kong

Studies show the tremendous negative impact of child abuse, including physical and emotional abuse in childhood on externalizing mental health problems in later life (e.g. young adulthood). However, limited information about this relationship is available in Asian countries like Hong Kong. The current study sought to address this gap by utilizing an exploratory retrospective design. Findings with 118 college students in Hong Kong suggest that there are statistically significant associations between experience of physical and emotional abuse in childhood and behavior problems in later life, and that there is a significant moderation effect of social support on that relationship.