Emotional reactivity to network stress in middle and late adulthood: the role of childhood parental emotional abuse and support.

PURPOSE This study examined whether recalled childhood parental emotional abuse and support were associated with emotional reactivity to network stress among middle-aged and older adults. DESIGN AND METHODS Hypotheses were tested by performing 2-level multilevel modeling analysis on 787 participants aged 33-83 who participated in the Daily Stress Project (2004-2009). RESULTS Adult daughters who recalled more childhood emotional abuse from their mother reported a higher average level of daily emotional distress nearly a decade later. The association between network stress and emotional distress was only significant among adult daughters. This emotional reactivity was attenuated by greater childhood emotional support from mothers. IMPLICATIONS Recalled childhood mother-child relationship continues to influence stress and coping across the lifespan, especially among women.