From the Guidelines
Emotional abandonment is primarily contributed to by factors such as poor communication patterns, childhood experiences with unavailable caregivers, relationship dynamics involving emotional withdrawal, mental health issues, and unresolved trauma, as evidenced by the most recent and highest quality study 1. These factors can lead to a person feeling consistently neglected or dismissed by important people in their life, resulting in emotional abandonment.
- Poor communication patterns where feelings are invalidated or ignored can contribute to emotional abandonment, as seen in the study 1 which highlights the importance of addressing factors that make a child more vulnerable to maltreatment.
- Childhood experiences with unavailable caregivers who failed to provide emotional support can also contribute to emotional abandonment, as noted in the study 1 which lists emotional/behavioral difficulties and developmental disabilities as factors that place a child at risk for child maltreatment.
- Relationship dynamics involving emotional withdrawal during conflict can also lead to emotional abandonment, as suggested by the study 1 which mentions social isolation and family or intimate partner violence as factors that increase the child's vulnerability to maltreatment.
- Mental health issues like depression or addiction that impair one's ability to be emotionally present can also contribute to emotional abandonment, as discussed in the study 1 which highlights the importance of addressing depressive and anxiety symptoms in adults with cancer.
- Unresolved trauma can also create barriers to emotional connection, leading to emotional abandonment, as noted in the study 1 which mentions the risk of new or recurrent cancer, as well as emerging chronicities such as cardiac disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, or generally poor health that take a toll on emotional well-being. Understanding these contributors is essential for addressing emotional abandonment, as recognizing these patterns allows individuals to seek appropriate support through therapy, improved communication skills, and establishing healthier boundaries in relationships.
From the Research
Contributors to Emotional Abandonment
- Chronic emotional abandonment in childhood can lead to identification with the aggressor, self-blame, and shame 2
- Environmental factors, such as excessive stress and abuse in childhood, can contribute to depression, which may be a factor in emotional abandonment 3
- Genetic and epigenetic factors, such as DNA methylation and histone modification, can also play a role in the development of depression and potentially emotional abandonment 3
- Nonshared environmental influences, such as social context and social partners, can impact emotion regulation strategies, including cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression 4
- Socio-economic factors, such as limited resources, can contribute to treatment refusal and abandonment in childhood cancer, which may be related to emotional abandonment 5
Emotional Abandonment in Specific Contexts
- In the context of childhood cancer treatment, refusal and abandonment can be caused by a complex interplay of biological, socio-economic, and treatment-related factors 5
- In the context of anxiety disorders in older adults, cognitive-behavioral therapy and pharmacologic treatment with SSRIs can be effective in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms, but may not directly address emotional abandonment 6
Factors Influencing Emotional Abandonment
- Genetic factors, such as heritability of neuroticism and emotion regulation strategies, can influence emotional abandonment 4
- Epigenetic factors, such as DNA methylation and histone modification, can also play a role in the development of depression and potentially emotional abandonment 3
- Environmental factors, such as excessive stress and abuse in childhood, can contribute to depression and emotional abandonment 3