Transdiagnostic factors in the COVID-19 pandemic: Examining the role of childhood abuse and neglect in establishing latent profiles of risk and resilience

Background: Ample studies have focused on the negative consequences of COVID-19 on mental well-being, but fewer have explored the specific role of childhood abuse and neglect in the context of risk and resilience during this unprecedented crisis. Objective: We aimed to identify distinct profiles of individuals based on their experiences of childhood abuse and neglect, coping strategies, and psycho-social transdiagnostic risk and protective factors, using a person-centered approach. Participants and setting: A convenience sample of 914 Israelis completed self-report questionnaires during the second wave of COVID-19. Methods: Latent Profile Analysis was employed based on levels of childhood abuse and neglect, coping strategies, and established factors underpinning risk and resilience in mental health: dissociation, self-criticism, self-efficacy, self-compassion, attachment insecurity, psychological resilience, mentalizing, distress disclosure, psychopathology, and relationship satisfaction. Profiles were compared in COVID-19-related distress and well-being using ANOVAs. Results: A four-profile solution was found to be optimal for describing individuals with different profiles of risk and resilience: “risk” (5.1 %)–individuals with meaningfully high levels of childhood abuse and neglect and dissociation; “vulnerable” (14.2 %)–individuals high in risk factors and low in protective factors; “moderately resilient” (47.6 %)–those with moderate levels of protective and risk factors; “highly resilient” (33.1 %)–individuals high in protective factors and low in risk factors; groups differed in mental well-being and COVID-19-related distress. Conclusions: Results highlight the importance of childhood abuse and neglect in differentiating between the two distinct profiles of at-risk individuals. Implications for risk assessment and treatment in the context of potential traumatic stress are discussed.