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Coronado H, Bonilla GS, Shircliff K, Sims I, Flood E, Cooley JL, Cummings C. Considering the associations of adverse and positive childhood experiences with health behaviors and outcomes among emerging adults. J Exp Child Psychol 2024; 244:105932. [PMID: 38718679 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2024.105932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Childhood is a sensitive period of development during which early life experiences can facilitate either positive or negative health trajectories across subsequent developmental periods. Previous research has established strong links between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adverse health outcomes (e.g., sleep-related problems, pain, substance use). Despite this, less is known about positive childhood experiences (PCEs) and how they may buffer the effects of ACEs on health outcomes. The current study investigated whether PCEs moderate the associations between ACEs and health behavior and health-related outcomes (i.e., cannabis use, alcohol use, sleep disturbance, sleep-related impairment, pain intensity, and pain interference) in a sample of at-risk emerging adults. Participants (N = 165) were undergraduate college students (18-25 years of age) who reported frequent alcohol and/or cannabis use (≥3 times in the past week). A significant positive association was found between ACEs and cannabis use. There were also significant negative associations found between PCEs and pain interference and intensity. PCEs did not moderate any of the associations between ACEs and health behavior and health-related outcomes (i.e., cannabis use, alcohol use, sleep disturbance, sleep-related impairment, pain intensity, and pain interference). Findings suggest that PCEs may be unlikely to serve as a strong enough protective factor during early life to decrease risk for suboptimal health and health behaviors during emerging adulthood among individuals who report a greater accumulation of ACEs. Longitudinal research is needed to identify additional related risk and protective factors during early life to further support health and health behavior during this transitional period of development and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley Coronado
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79423, USA
| | - Gisel Suarez Bonilla
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79423, USA
| | - Katherine Shircliff
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79423, USA
| | - Imani Sims
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79423, USA
| | - Ella Flood
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79423, USA
| | - John L Cooley
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79423, USA
| | - Caroline Cummings
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79423, USA.
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2
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Condon EM, Scheibner HR, Kuzel M, Howard M, Cisse M, O'Connell M, Conley Y, Jeon S, Sadler LS, Redeker NS. The CARING study: Examining biological, behavioral, and genetic mechanisms in the intergenerational transmission of toxic stress. Res Nurs Health 2024. [PMID: 38804202 DOI: 10.1002/nur.22400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
When children experience extreme or persistent stressors (e.g., maltreatment, housing insecurity, intimate partner violence), prolonged elevation of the stress-response system can lead to disrupted development of multiple physiological systems. This response, known as toxic stress, is associated with poor physical and mental health across the life course. Emerging evidence suggests that the effects of toxic stress may be transmitted through generations, but the biological and behavioral mechanisms that link caregivers' childhood history with the health of the children they care for remain poorly understood. The purpose of this report is to describe the research protocol for The CARING (Childhood Adversity and Resilience In the Next Generation) Study, a cross-sectional study of caregivers with children aged 3-5 years designed to (1) examine the intergenerational transmission of toxic stress and protective factors; (2) explore three hypothesized pathways of transmission: parenting, daily routines, stressors, and supports; and (3) explore the extent to which genotypic variation in candidate genes related to caregiving and stress contribute to caregivers' and children's susceptibility to the effects of early childhood experiences (i.e., gene × environment interactions). We expect that findings from this study will provide critical data needed to identify targets for precision health interventions, reduce health disparities related to toxic stress, and prevent cycles of adversity among families at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen M Condon
- University of Connecticut School of Nursing, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - Meredith Kuzel
- University of Connecticut School of Nursing, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Mackenzie Howard
- University of Connecticut School of Nursing, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Mouhamadou Cisse
- Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
| | - Meghan O'Connell
- University of Connecticut School of Nursing, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Yvette Conley
- University of Pittsburg School of Nursing, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Nancy S Redeker
- University of Connecticut School of Nursing, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
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3
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Whitaker RC, Dearth-Wesley T, Herman AN. Parent-Child Connection and the Development of Flourishing. Acad Pediatr 2024:S1876-2859(24)00162-1. [PMID: 38797474 DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2024.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Whitaker
- Columbia-Bassett Program (RC Whitaker, T Dearth-Wesley, and AN Herman), Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY; Columbia-Bassett Program (RC Whitaker, T Dearth-Wesley, and AN Herman), Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, NY; Bassett Research Institute (RC Whitaker, T Dearth-Wesley, and AN Herman), Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, NY; Department of Pediatrics (RC Whitaker), Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY.
| | - Tracy Dearth-Wesley
- Columbia-Bassett Program (RC Whitaker, T Dearth-Wesley, and AN Herman), Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY; Columbia-Bassett Program (RC Whitaker, T Dearth-Wesley, and AN Herman), Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, NY; Bassett Research Institute (RC Whitaker, T Dearth-Wesley, and AN Herman), Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, NY
| | - Allison N Herman
- Columbia-Bassett Program (RC Whitaker, T Dearth-Wesley, and AN Herman), Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY; Columbia-Bassett Program (RC Whitaker, T Dearth-Wesley, and AN Herman), Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, NY; Bassett Research Institute (RC Whitaker, T Dearth-Wesley, and AN Herman), Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, NY
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Miller JG, Gluckman PD, Fortier MV, Chong YS, Meaney MJ, Tan AP, Gotlib IH. Faster pace of hippocampal growth mediates the association between perinatal adversity and childhood depression. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2024; 67:101392. [PMID: 38761439 PMCID: PMC11127214 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Early life adversity has been posited to influence the pace of structural neurodevelopment. Most research, however, has relied on cross-sectional data, which do not reveal whether the pace of neurodevelopmental change is accelerated or slowed following early exposures. In a birth cohort study that included neuroimaging data obtained at 4.5, 6, and 7.5 years of age (N = 784), we examined associations among a cumulative measure of perinatal adversity relative to resources, nonlinear trajectories of hippocampal and amygdala volume, and children's subsequent depressive symptoms at 8.5 years of age. Greater adversity was associated with reduced bilateral hippocampal body volume in early childhood, but also to faster growth in the right hippocampal body across childhood. Further, the association between adversity and childhood depressive symptoms was mediated by faster hippocampal body growth. These findings suggest that perinatal adversity is biologically embedded in hippocampal structure development, including an accelerated pace of change in the right hippocampal body that is implicated in children's psychopathology risk. In addition, our findings suggest that reduced hippocampal volume is not inconsistent with accelerated hippocampal change; these aspects of structural development may typically co-occur, as smaller regional volumes in early childhood were associated with faster growth across childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas G Miller
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, CT, USA.
| | - Peter D Gluckman
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Marielle V Fortier
- Department of Diagnostic & Interventional Imaging, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | - Yap Seng Chong
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A⁎STAR Research Entities, Singapore; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Michael J Meaney
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A⁎STAR Research Entities, Singapore; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Brain - Body Initiative, A⁎STAR Research Entities, Singapore
| | - Ai Peng Tan
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A⁎STAR Research Entities, Singapore; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Brain - Body Initiative, A⁎STAR Research Entities, Singapore; Department of Diagnostic Imaging, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Ian H Gotlib
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, CA, USA
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Bailes LG, Blum A, Barnett W, Piersiak H, Takemoto S, Fleming B, Alexander C, Humphreys KL. Stressful life events and prenatal representations of the child. Attach Hum Dev 2024; 26:116-132. [PMID: 38655855 DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2024.2345242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Caregivers' mental representations of their children can be assessed prenatally and are prospectively associated with later caregiving quality and caregiver-child attachment. Compared to balanced, distorted or disengaged representations are linked to insecure caregiver-child attachments. The present study explored factors (i.e. stressful life experiences and positive experiences) that may be linked to risk for distorted and disengaged representations. We used a brief version of the Prenatal Working Model of the Child Interview in a sample of 298 pregnant people (ages 19 to 45 years; M = 30.83, SD = 5.00) between gestational age 11-38 weeks (M = 23.49, SD = 5.70). A greater number of stressful events across three developmental periods (i.e., lifespan, childhood, and pregnancy) were related to increased odds of distorted, compared to balanced classification. Pregnancy stress had the largest association. Positive experiences from childhood did not buffer the association between stress and representations. Findings highlight the importance of stress on prenatal representations of one's child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren G Bailes
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA
| | - Abigail Blum
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA
| | - Whitney Barnett
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA
| | - Hannah Piersiak
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA
| | - Sydney Takemoto
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA
| | - Brooke Fleming
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA
| | - Caelan Alexander
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA
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Malafanti A, Yotsidi V, Sideridis G, Giannouli E, Galanaki EP, Malogiannis I. The impact of childhood trauma on borderline personality organization in a community sample of Greek emerging adults. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2024; 244:104181. [PMID: 38330732 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
There is limited research on the role of childhood trauma in personality pathology according to Kernberg's psychodynamic model of internalized object relations. Because childhood trauma reflects the disruptions of these relations, it is expected to predict borderline personality organization, especially at the threshold of adulthood. Therefore, the main aim of this retrospective study was to examine the impact of childhood trauma on borderline personality organization in a community sample of emerging adults. Participants were 543 Greek individuals aged 18-29 (M = 21.45; 58.6 % females; 85.1 % university students). They completed the Greek versions of the Traumatic Antecedents Questionnaire (TAQ) and the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO), which were tested for their factorial structure, reliability, and measurement invariance across gender, as few empirical data exist on the psychometric properties of these measures. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the TAQ consisted of four factors, namely positive experiences, abuse, traumatic life events, and family chaos. The five-factor theoretical structure of the IPO, namely primitive defenses, identity diffusion, reality testing, aggression, and moral values, was confirmed. Low to moderate links between childhood trauma and borderline personality organization were found, with stronger links emerging for abuse and family chaos. Structural equation modeling showed that the various forms of childhood trauma across the age periods studied (i.e., 0-6, 7-12, 13-18) significantly and differentially predicted the dimensions of borderline personality organization. The finding that stronger links emerged when trauma occurred in older ages may be attributed to the retrospective method of the study. Gender differences were also found; for example, personality pathology was more likely in men when abuse and traumatic life events occurred in younger ages and abuse was a more important risk factor for personality pathology in women. This study highlights the impact of childhood adversity on personality pathology in emerging adulthood, provides empirical support for Kernberg's psychodynamic model, and has useful implications for trauma-informed early screening, prevention, and intervention regarding personality pathology in young people. Limitations of this study and suggestions for future research are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aikaterini Malafanti
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Greece.
| | - Vasiliki Yotsidi
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Greece.
| | - Georgios Sideridis
- Psychology Laboratory, Department of Pedagogy and Primary Education, School of Education, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
| | - Eleni Giannouli
- Personality Disorders Specific Sector, 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
| | - Evangelia P Galanaki
- Psychology Laboratory, Department of Pedagogy and Primary Education, School of Education, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
| | - Ioannis Malogiannis
- Personality Disorders Specific Sector, 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
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7
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Novak A, Semenza D, Gutman C, Heard-Garris N, Testa A, Jackson DB. Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trajectories of Firearm Exposure in Childhood. J Pediatr 2024; 270:114008. [PMID: 38479639 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the longitudinal relationship between exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in early life and trajectories of firearm exposure from early to middle childhood (ages 5-9 years old). STUDY DESIGN Data from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LOGSCAN) study were used. The LONGSCAN study was a prospective study in the United States and contained data from 1354 children from age 4 to age 18 years old. Exposure to ACEs was measured through the wave 1 interview (age 5 years old) and trajectories of firearm exposure were created using data from waves 1 (age 5 years old) and two (age 9 years old). RESULTS Two trajectories of firearm exposure in childhood were identified: a low exposure group and a group with persistently-high firearm exposure from ages 5 to 9 years old. ACEs were associated with membership in the high exposure group and children with four or more ACEs had over twice the odds of membership in the high exposure group compared with children with zero ACEs. CONCLUSION ACEs exposure in early childhood is associated with persistently-high exposure to firearms from early to middle childhood. This finding highlights the need for pediatricians to consider screening for both ACEs and firearm exposure in routine examinations, as well as the need for future research to identify and evaluate interventions intended to address exposure to adversity and firearms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Novak
- Department of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies, University of Mississippi, University, MS.
| | - Daniel Semenza
- Camden College of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ
| | - Colleen Gutman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL
| | - Nia Heard-Garris
- Division of Advanced General Pediatrics and Primary Care, Department of Pediatrics, Mary Ann & J. Milburn Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research, and Evaluation Center, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL; Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Alexander Testa
- Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Dylan B Jackson
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
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Şanli ME, Çiçek İ, Yıldırım M, Çeri V. Positive childhood experiences as predictors of anxiety and depression in a large sample from Turkey. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2024; 243:104170. [PMID: 38301406 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Positive childhood experiences positively influence one's adult life, while the absence of such positive experiences can potentially yield mental health problems throughout the lifespan. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the role of positive childhood experiences on depression and anxiety levels. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING 3090 (2059 women) young adults participated in this research. They ranged in age between 18 and 68 years (M = 28.78, SD = 9.44) and completed the self-report measures including the Positive Childhood Experiences Scale, Beck Depression and Anxiety Scales and Personal Information Forms. METHOD A cross-sectional research design was used to collect the data through social media platforms. We conducted a regression analysis to examine how positive childhood experiences contribute to depression and anxiety. RESULTS The results of correlation analysis indicated that positive childhood experiences were significantly negatively related to depression and anxiety. Regression analysis revealed that positive childhood experiences explained a significant amount of variance in the prediction of depression (10 %) and anxiety (8 %) after controlling for demographic factors. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the frequency of positive experiences lived during childhood might significantly reduce anxiety and depression, and positive childhood experiences might positively affect them.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - İlhan Çiçek
- Health College, Batman University, Batman, Turkey
| | - Murat Yıldırım
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Letters, Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, Ağrı, Turkey; Department of Social and Educational Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Veysi Çeri
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences, Antalya Bilim University, Antalya, Turkey
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Negriff S, Sidell MA, DiGangi MJ. Adverse childhood experiences screening in healthcare settings: A focus on pediatric primary care. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2024:106709. [PMID: 38418328 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) screening in healthcare settings is emerging as one of the tangible responses to address the consistent evidence linking ACEs with health. Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) began ACEs screening in pediatric primary care in 2018 and has developed screening and referral processes based on continued feedback from stakeholders as well as data driven assessment. OBJECTIVE We give an overview of the state of ACEs screening in pediatric healthcare settings, challenges facing pediatric providers, and suggestions to address them. We then describe the development of our ACEs screening and referral process within KPSC as an example of how a large healthcare system has implemented and adapted ACEs screening from pilot testing, to phased expansion, to complete implementation. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Children aged 2-18 years old who were members of KPSC 2018-2023. RESULTS We present data on the tailored screening and referral workflows we have developed, rates of positive screens and referrals, and how the initiation of ACEs screening may affect the rates of visit to behavioral health as a treatment option. We also integrate qualitative data to demonstrate the perspective of parents, with the goal of understanding what might help or hinder receipt of behavioral health treatment after ACEs screening. CONCLUSIONS We close with future directions for ACEs screening in healthcare settings and considerations for pediatric healthcare providers who may want to begin ACEs screening or adapt their screening and referral processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonya Negriff
- Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Department of Research & Evaluation, United States of America.
| | - Margo A Sidell
- Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Department of Research & Evaluation, United States of America
| | - Mercie J DiGangi
- Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Department of Pediatrics, United States of America
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Suh BC, Gallaway MS, Celaya MF. Supportive Relationships Mitigate the Effect of Cumulative Exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences on Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Suicide Considerations-The Arizona Youth Risk Behavior Survey. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:161. [PMID: 38397273 PMCID: PMC10887230 DOI: 10.3390/children11020161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Declining adolescent mental health is a significant public health concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing and stay-at-home orders have led to missed social connections with peers and adults outside households, and this has increased the risk of mental health problems in children and adolescents, particularly those with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Studies have shown that strong interpersonal support improves adolescent mental health. We examined the association between ACEs and poor mental health (including stress, anxiety, and depression) and how the presence of interpersonal support from caring adults and friends and school connectedness can mitigate this relationship among adolescents in Arizona. This study analyzed data from the 2021 Arizona Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS; n = 1181), a population-based survey conducted biennially across the United States. The Arizona sample included high school students in grades 9-12 who were enrolled in public and charter schools. This study revealed that nearly three of four adolescents experienced an ACE, and one of five experienced ≥4 ACEs. Compared with adolescents who experienced zero ACEs, those with ≥4 ACEs experienced less interpersonal support from caring adults, friends, and school and more frequently reported poor mental health and suicidal thoughts. However, adolescents with interpersonal support consistently reported lower rates of mental health issues, even with exposure to multiple ACEs. Post-pandemic programs to improve social relationships with adults, peers, and schools are critical, especially for adolescents with multiple adversities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin C. Suh
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Phoenix, AZ 85007, USA;
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Spesia F, Swigonski N, White C, Fox MD, Enneking B. Leveraging Public Health and Public School Partnerships for Local Surveillance of Positive Childhood Experiences. Public Health Rep 2024:333549231223707. [PMID: 38264950 DOI: 10.1177/00333549231223707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Childhood psychosocial experiences can have a lifelong effect on health. These experiences can be measured together as positive and adverse childhood experiences or individually as positive childhood experiences (PCEs) or adverse childhood experiences. Most research on PCEs has focused on how PCEs promote health outcomes. However, limited research has been conducted on the prevalence of PCEs among adolescents in local areas served by public health departments. The St. Joseph County Department of Health developed a study to test the feasibility of surveillance of PCEs through local public health departments and to establish a prevalence for PCE exposure among a population of urban public-school students in Indiana. We conducted a survey in spring 2022 that collected demographic information on students at 2 high schools and 1 middle school and assessed exposure to PCEs. We assessed prevalence of PCEs on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = never, 1 = rarely, 2 = sometimes, 3 = usually, 4 = always). PCE scores were grouped into low (0-2), medium (3-5), and high (6 or 7). The prevalence of individual PCE items ranged from 35.6% to 86.8%. Among 798 respondents, 189 (23.7%) reported low PCE scores, 396 (49.6%) reported medium scores, and 213 (26.7%) reported high scores. This research demonstrates the feasibility of school-based PCE surveillance and establishes a baseline prevalence of PCE exposure among a population of middle and high school students. These methods are applicable to different contexts and can provide both local health departments and school systems with a new tool to address adverse childhood experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Spesia
- Department of Health, St. Joseph County, South Bend, IN, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, USA
| | - Nancy Swigonski
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Cassy White
- Department of Health, St. Joseph County, South Bend, IN, USA
- Beacon Health System, South Bend, IN, USA
| | - Mark D Fox
- Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN, USA
| | - Brett Enneking
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Narayan AJ, Merrick JS, Lane AS, Larson MD. A multisystem, dimensional interplay of assets versus adversities: Revised benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) in the context of childhood maltreatment, threat, and deprivation. Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:2444-2463. [PMID: 37282577 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579423000536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This study expanded the Benevolent Childhood Experiences scale (termed the "BCEs-Original" scale) with 10 new multisystem items and identified a subset of items (termed the "BCEs-Revised" scale) that are systematically less commonly reported across samples. Total BCEs-Revised scores were tested against total BCEs-Original scores and three dimensions of childhood adversity (maltreatment, threat, and deprivation) as predictors of young adulthood mental health problems (depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms). Hypotheses expected stronger inverse associations of BCEs-Revised scores than BCEs-Original scores with all mental health problems. Participants were 1,746 U.S. young adults (M = 26.6 years, SD = 4.7, range = 19-35 years; 55.3% female, 42.4% male, 2.3% gender non-conforming; 67.0% White, 10.3% Asian, 8.6% Black, 8.4% Latine, 5.7% other) who completed a 20-item BCEs scale and well-validated instruments on childhood adversities and mental health problems. Compared to BCEs-Original scores, BCEs-Revised scores were significantly more strongly inversely associated with all mental health outcomes. Compared to childhood threat and deprivation, maltreatment was significantly more strongly associated with PTSD symptoms. After controlling for current depression symptoms, BCEs-Revised scores interacted with maltreatment to predict PTSD symptoms. Maltreatment and BCEs-Revised scores also influenced PTSD symptoms in person-oriented analyses. The BCEs-Revised scale has strong psychometric properties and unique strengths in research and practice. Implications for multisystem resilience are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Arianna S Lane
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
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Johnson D, Browne DT, Prime H, Heron J, Wade M. Parental mental health trajectories over the COVID-19 pandemic and links with childhood adversity and pandemic stress. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2023:106554. [PMID: 37993365 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant disruptions, with parents of school-age children being identified as a vulnerable population. Limited research has longitudinally tracked the mental health trajectories of parents over the active pandemic period. In addition, parents' history of adverse (ACEs) and benevolent (BCEs) childhood experiences may compound or attenuate the effect of COVID-19 stressors on parental psychopathology. OBJECTIVE To identify distinct longitudinal trajectories of parental mental health over the COVID-19 pandemic and how these trajectories are associated with parental ACEs, BCEs, and COVID-19 stress. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING 547 parents of 5-18-year-old children from the U.K., U.S., Canada, and Australia. METHODS Growth mixture modelling was used to identify trajectories of parental mental health (distress, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and substance use) from May 2020 to October 2021. COVID-19 stress, ACEs, and BCEs were assessed as predictors of mental health trajectories via multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS Two-class trajectories of "Low Stable" and "Moderate Stable" symptoms were identified for psychological distress and anxiety. Three-class trajectories of "Low Stable", "High Stable", and "High Decreasing" symptoms were observed for post-traumatic stress. Reliable trajectories for substance use could not be identified. Multinomial logistic regression showed that COVID-19 stress and ACEs independently predicted membership in trajectories of greater mental health impairment, while BCEs independently predicted membership in trajectories of lower psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS Parents experienced mostly stable mental health symptomatology, with trajectories varying by overall symptom severity. COVID-19 stress, ACEs, and BCEs each appear to play a role in parents' mental health during this unique historical period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Johnson
- Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dillon T Browne
- Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Heather Prime
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jon Heron
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Wade
- Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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