Legacy of the GDR: regional disparities in childhood maltreatment in post-unification Germany.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Previous research has identified growing up in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) as a protective factor against childhood abuse and neglect compared to growing up in the former Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). This study investigates whether these differences persist among individuals born after German reunification, providing a novel focus on the post-unification generation and the possible transgenerational transmission of childhood maltreatment in Germany.

Method

The prevalence of self-reported abusive and neglected childhood experiences among 17- to 31-year-olds, stratified by gender and socio-political context (East/West), was examined using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Data of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Ch

SUBMITTER: Kasinger C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11927179 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature