Research and Publications - Department of Human Development and Family Studies

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Browsing Research and Publications - Department of Human Development and Family Studies by Subject "Adverse childhood experiences"

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    Pathways to Suicidal Behavior in Children and Adolescents: Examination of Child Maltreatment and Post-Traumatic Symptoms
    (Springer, 2022) McRae, Elizabeth; Stoppelbein, Laura; O'Kelley, Sarah; Smith, Shana; Fite, Paula; University of Alabama Birmingham; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa; Jacksonville State University; University of Kansas
    Suicide in youth exacts significant personal and community costs. Thus, it is important to understand predisposing risk factors. Experiencing adverse childhood experiences (ACES), such as child maltreatment (CM-ACE), and the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder has been identified as a risk factor of suicidal behaviors among adults. Theoretical models of suicide suggest that the presence of painful experiences such as CM-ACES increase the risk of suicidal behaviors. The relation between child maltreatment, post-traumatic stress symptom clusters (PTSS) and suicidal behaviors has not been explicitly examined among youth. The present study examined the relations between CM-ACES, PTSS clusters, and suicidal behaviors in a clinical population of children. Children, male, ages 6 to 14, enrolled in a residential treatment program completed self-report measures to evaluate variables of interest. Path analyses revealed statistically significant direct effects of CM-ACES and PTSS clusters on suicidal behaviors. Significant total indirect effects and marginally significant individual indirect effects of intrusion and avoidance symptoms were observed for the relation between CM-ACES and suicidal behavior. Findings suggest that symptoms associated with specific PTSS clusters might help explain the relation between CM-ACES and suicidal behavior, and therefore, present important implications for clinical practice and future research.
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    The Role of Resilience in Ethnic Minority Adolescent Navigation of Ecological Adversity
    (Springer, 2021) Wilcox, Lisa; Larson, Kim; Bartlett, Robin; University of North Carolina; East Carolina University; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    Adverse childhood experiences and health disparities profoundly affect the health of ethnic minority adolescents and influence their overall well-being. In light of current health disparities and civil unrest, this secondary analysis sought to better understand resilience among ethnic minority adolescents living in rural eastern North Carolina (NC). Using Ungar's (2013) Theory of Resilience and Seven Tensions, the two tensions that depicted the most adversity for these adolescents were social justice and power and control. Racism and discrimination were identified as prevalent risk factors. Four tensions in the model, cultural adherence, identity, cohesion, and access to material resources, were linked to protective factors and represented ethnocultural pride. Findings suggest that rural-dwelling African American and Latinx adolescents share concerns related to racial adversity but navigate their ecological experiences in unique ways.