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Affluent White rural men have the highest rates of gun ownership in the United States. However, few studies have specifically examined reasons and motivations for gun ownership and gun behaviors in this population. Therefore, this study sought to examine the relationship between stress variables, namely masculine gender role stress, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and income level, and subsequent pro-gun beliefs and amount of time an individual carried a gun within this population. Results indicated that only two measures of pro-gun beliefs (i.e., believing guns keep one safe, believing guns are present in one's social sphere) were correlated with percentage of time an individual carried. Additionally, ACEs were positively correlated with believing guns influence how others perceive oneself, levels of masculine gender role stress, and income. These results suggest that White rural gun owners who have increased ACEs have decreased income and tend to believe that owning guns impacts their social status with peers. However, increased ACEs do not influence belief about guns keeping one safe, believing guns are present in one's social sphere, or gun carriage. Instead, White rural gun owners without childhood adversity may be more susceptible to believing their safety depends on guns and belongingness within their social sphere. Future research should assess reasons why affluent White rural men find it important to maintain their safety in the context of gun ownership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examined whether the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and self-rated health among adults in a nationally representative population is modified by age, sex, or race/ethnicity. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: United States. Sample: Data from the 2020 and 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were obtained from 185 731 (weighted N = 47 862 016) persons 18 years or older. Measures: The ACE cumulative score (range: 0-11) was calculated using 11 questions about childhood emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and household dysfunction before age 18 and classified as 0 (reference), 1, 2, 3, or ≥4. Self-rated health was divided into (excellent/very good/good [reference]) and suboptimal (fair/poor) categories. Analysis: Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression was conducted to test for the interaction with age, sex, and race/ethnicity with ACEs. After adjustment for potential confounders, an increasing number of ACEs had statistically significantly higher odds of suboptimal self-rated health in a graded manner except for 1 ACE (1 ACE: aOR:1.09; 95% CI: 1.00-1.20, 2 ACEs: 1.16; 1.03-1.30, 3 ACEs: 1.17; 1.03-1.32 and ≥4 ACEs: 1.39; 1.26-1.53). There was a significant interaction between ACEs and age. Younger age (18-24 years) had the strongest association for ≥4 ACEs compared to the older age groups. There was no effect modification by sex or race. Conclusion: ACEs should be considered when creating health-promoting interventions to improve health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child sexual abuse (CSA) can have lasting negative impacts on one's sense of safety and trust, ultimately affecting the quality of relationships, and increasing the likelihood of future victimization experiences. The present study provides a qualitative description of the themes that were generated through interviews conducted with 23 mothers who experienced CSA (dis)continuity (12 continuity, 11 discontinuity). The mothers described a variety of experiences related to parent–child and romantic relationships and parenting behaviors, which could be further researched and targeted by interventions to reduce the risk of intergenerational cycles of maltreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that parents with a history of childhood abuse are at increased risk of perpetrating child abuse. To break the cycle of childhood abuse we need to better understand the mechanisms that play a role. In a cross-sectional extended family design including three generations (N = 250, 59% female), we examined the possible mediating role of parental psychopathology and emotion regulation in the association between a history of childhood abuse and perpetrating child abuse. Parents' own history of childhood abuse was associated with perpetrating abuse toward their children, and externalizing (but not internalizing) problems partially mediated this association statistically. Implicit and explicit emotion regulation were not associated with experienced or perpetrated abuse. Findings did not differ across fathers and mothers. Findings underline the importance of (early) treatment of externalizing problems in parents with a history of childhood abuse, to possibly prevent the transmission of child abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating role of multisystemic strengths in the association between complex trauma (CT) exposure and placement stability among racialized youth using the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strength (CANS) assessment. Participants were 4022 Black and Latinx youth in the child welfare system in a midwestern state. Negative binomial regressions revealed a significant indirect effect of CT exposure on placement stability through interpersonal strengths (p <.01), coping skills (p <.001), optimism (p <.01), and talents/interests (p <.05). At the familial level, there was a significant indirect effect of CT exposure on placement stability through family strengths and relationship permanence (p <.001). At the community level, educational system supports, and community resources indirectly impacted the relationship between CT exposure and placement stability (p <.01). These findings suggest that early interventions aimed at identifying and developing multisystemic strengths in Black and Latinx youth in the child welfare system can help maximize placement stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore key characteristics of the out-of-home care subgroup of a nationally representative Australian sample. To ensure that mental health services are appropriately targeted, it is critical that we understand the differential impacts of childhood experiences for this cohort. Using the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (N = 8503), we explored patterns of childhood maltreatment and adversity of participants who reported ever being placed in out-of-home care, such as foster care or kinship care. In addition, the prevalence of current and lifetime diagnosis of four mental health disorders were explored. Results showed that the care experienced subgroup reported more types of maltreatment and adverse experiences than the control group. They were also more likely to meet diagnostic threshold for post-traumatic stress disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder than the control group. These findings can be used to guide mental health practitioners to target interventions more effectively within the out-of-home care cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the relationship between maternal exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), intimate partner violence (IPV), and two aspects of maternal mental well-being—stress and depressive symptoms in the context of Tirana, Albania. Data were obtained from a representative sample of 328 mothers of 2–3-year-old children, who were registered in Tirana's public nurseries. Findings show that maternal ACEs are positively associated with stress levels (β =.210, z = 4.03, p <.001) and depressive symptoms (β =.129, z = 2.62, p <.01). In addition, IPV partially mediates the effect of ACEs on maternal stress (β =.081, z = 3.75, p <.001) and fully mediates the effect of ACEs on depressive symptoms (β =.054, z = 2.87, p <.01). These results suggest that among mothers of toddlers in Tirana, ACEs influence stress levels both directly and via IPV, while they influence depressive symptoms only via IPV. The findings demonstrate long-term effects of maternal exposure to interpersonal violence on mental well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examined the cross-cultural validity of nonviolent communication (NVC) behaviors as measured using the Nonviolent Communication Behaviors Scale (NVCBS) and explored their potential relationship with post-traumatic stress (PTS). Methods: We analyzed data from two samples (N = 412 Chinese adults and N = 283 English-speaking adults). Results: The best-fitting model of NVCBS was the proposed three-factor model ("self-connection," "authentic self-expression," and "empathic listening"), with configural, metric, and scalar invariance established across samples with different languages and sociocultural backgrounds. The NVCBS had satisfactory internal consistency and convergent validity and was negatively associated with PTS. The findings were replicated across the two samples. Discussion: NVC behaviors can be reliably and validly measured using the NVCBS. Given its brevity and measurement invariance across cultures, the NVCBS is a promising tool to facilitate future studies on NVC. Moreover, a lack of NVC behaviors may be a social-behavioral feature associated with PTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored the intergenerational transmission effects of maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and infant neglect from multiple perspectives. The study included a sample of postpartum mothers and infants (N = 550) from the outpatient child health care department of a tertiary hospital in Jinan, Shandong Province, China. Our investigation followed three main lines of inquiry. First, the association of overall maternal ACEs with infant neglect was estimated. Secondly, the cumulative and independent effects of maternal ACEs on infant neglect were explored using the Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire-Revised (ACEQ-R) with 14 types of ACEs. Finally, the different patterns of 14 maternal ACEs were identified, and the association between the different patterns and infant neglect was explored. There were three main findings. First, infants born to mothers with ACEs experienced higher levels of neglect compared to those born to mothers without ACEs. Second, infants born to mothers with three or more subtypes of ACEs experienced the greatest levels of neglect, with maternal childhood physical neglect emerging as a particularly influential factor. Third, infants in the "median maternal ACEs" and "high maternal neglect and poor peer relationship" groups experienced more severe neglect than those in the "low maternal ACEs" group. These results suggest that early life experiences substantially shape future parenting behaviors, such as infant neglect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood interpersonal violence exposure (IVE) is associated with repeated victimization in adolescence and adulthood. Research suggests dissociation, a psychological phenomenon characterized by alterations and disruptions to consciousness, memory, and perceptions of the environment, and out-of-body experiences, increases the risk of revictimization. Self-report data from a longitudinal study of 92 violence-exposed adolescent girls from a large, urban area were analyzed to assess whether dissociation predicts polyvictimization or exposure to multiple types of interpersonal violence across adolescence. Participants' mental and interpersonal health was assessed at four in-person laboratory visits scheduled across 3.5 years (i.e., T1–T4). IVE included direct or indirect victimization experienced at home, school, the neighborhood, or town, such as child maltreatment, domestic violence, peer victimization, dating aggression, and community violence. Polyvictimization was operationalized as a composite score of the different types of IVE endorsed by the participant or caregiver. A random-intercept cross-lagged panel model was used to test the bidirectional relationships between dissociation and polyvictimization longitudinally. Cross-lagged regressions were analyzed to determine whether dissociation and polyvictimization predicted subsequent dissociation symptoms and polyvictimization. Concurrent and previous dissociation significantly accounted for polyvictimization at T2, T3, and T4. Polyvictimization did not significantly predict future dissociation symptoms. The results from this study provide support for dissociation's unique contribution to polyvictimization among violence-exposed girls, making it an important target for clinical assessment and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research from the past few decades has highlighted the long- and wide-reaching effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). These experiences can negatively affect mental and physical health, as well as behaviors and interpersonal relationships well into adulthood. While it is generally understood that ACEs are prevalent in correctional populations, no prior studies have measured this issue using a large representative and racially and ethnically diverse sample of both male and female adult correctional populations in the United States. The data used for this study were collected via an assessment administered to more than 2,100 adults in Minnesota's prison system. Descriptive findings revealed that multiple and varied forms of ACEs were common in the histories of this state's incarcerated population, particularly among females and incarcerated persons who identified as Black, White/non-Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaskan Native. The multivariate results revealed that past exposure to ACEs increased the likelihood and speed of disciplinary convictions after admission to prison for males, but not for females. Overall, the results underscored the importance of assessing for responsivity factors upon admission to prison, including ACEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the heterogeneity of women who engage in violence is critical to provide effective treatment and reduce the likelihood of recidivism. Existing typologies of women who engage in violence have been created using mixed methodological approaches; the field would benefit from replication using a quantitative clustering method—latent class analysis (LCA)—as it is arguably more objective than methods used to date. A LCA was conducted using archival data involving 3,773 justice-impacted women in Western Canada to identify unique subgroups of women who perpetrate violence. Three distinct profiles emerged: (a) intimate partner violence (IPV)-only (40.5%), wherein almost all women reported only perpetrating domestic violence and had zero or only one previous violent conviction, (b) patterned (19.1%), wherein violence was perpetrated toward domestic partners and unknown victims, and the majority had two or more previous violent convictions, and (c) isolated (40.4%), wherein very few perpetrated domestic violence, some perpetrated violence toward unknowns, and the majority had either zero or only one previous conviction for a violent offense. Need profiles and recidivism outcomes were further analyzed as a function of group membership. As hypothesized, the group with the greatest criminal history and use of violence reported the greatest needs. Recidivism also increased as the number of dynamic needs increased. Notably, 80.9% of the sample was predominantly low risk/low need and were identified as IPV-only or isolated women. Implications of these findings may be used to inform risk classification, treatment targets, and treatment intensity required to reduce the likelihood of recidivism among women who perpetrate violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Racial and ethnic differences have been observed across patterns of substance use and exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The goal of this review was to summarize the current evidence on ACE and health outcomes across racial and ethnic groups in the United States. A scoping review of the literature following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analysis for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guideline was performed. Using predetermined search terms and parameters, an electronic database search of peer-reviewed literature between 1997 and 2022 was performed. Forty-five articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thirteen articles focused on health behavior and education outcomes, fifteen reported on physical health outcomes, and eighteen reported on mental health outcomes. Relatively to mental health outcomes, race/ethnicity appeared to play a less significant role in the relationship between ACE and behavioral outcomes or physical health outcomes. There was stronger evidence that race/ethnicity may moderate relationships between ACE exposure and mental health outcomes. Across health behavior, physical health, and mental health domains, the evidence suggests that the relationship between ACE exposure and health outcomes is not uniform across different racial and ethnic groups. These findings highlight the need for future research to uncover how cultural, societal, and developmental factors interact to shape health in the context following exposure to childhood adversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The trauma most commonly associated with the military is combat-related trauma. It is increasingly recognised that childhood sexual and physical abuse and military sexual assault may influence or exacerbate posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when military members are exposed to combat. Aims: The study aimed to determine whether a history of childhood sexual and physical abuse would increase the likelihood of military sexual assault (MSA) and determine whether a history of sexual abuse (childhood or military) impacted the incidence and severity of post-trauma sequelae compared to veterans without this history. Method: A retrospective correlational analysis was performed on baseline data collected from clinical case records of a cohort of 134 Australian veterans with PTSD who had attended an outpatient Military Service Trauma Recovery Day Programme between October 2020 and May 2022. Results: Almost half (48.5%) of veterans reported a history of abuse. Prevalence rates of military sexual abuse, child sexual abuse and child physical abuse were 14.9%, 13.4% and 23.1% respectively. The relationship between those who experienced childhood abuse and those who experienced military sexual abuse was not significant. No significant differences were observed between those who experienced any sexual abuse and those who did not on intake scores of psychological symptoms. Conclusion: This is the first Australian study to investigate the prevalence of childhood abuse and military sexual abuse and its impact on PTSD and associated psychopathology in a sample of veterans seeking mental health treatment. No additional risks of experiencing military sexual assault were found for those who had survived childhood sexual abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anger and aggression are among the most clinically pervasive symptoms of people with complex trauma histories, however, there is little agreement about how anger and aggression are defined, triggers to anger and aggression, and how anger and aggression are regulated. Plus, limited research exists from youths' perspectives. Using a developmental trauma framework as a guide, a phenomenological qualitative study was conducted to understand youths' experiences of anger and aggression with a sample of youth with low and higher levels of risk exposure. Resulting themes points to youths' perceptions of triggers, regulation, purposes, and usefulness of anger and aggression. While there were similarities across groups, there were notable differences in how youth described triggers and the regulation of anger and aggression. Findings point to the importance of considering the adaptive functioning of anger and aggression in the context of youth' lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing literature has devoted relatively little attention to the responsivity principle and, in particular, religiosity as a type of specific responsivity. Using a sample of nearly 2,000 people incarcerated in Minnesota's prison system, this study examined the relationship between religiosity and measures of risk, needs, and responsivity. The results showed that religiosity was positively associated with childhood trauma, pro-social identities, and perceived social support, while it was negatively associated with criminal thinking and employment needs. Findings further revealed that religiosity was associated with less prison misconduct and reduced recidivism risk, but only for people with positive self-identities, according to Paternoster and Bushway's Fear of Self scale, and lower levels of perceived social support. We discuss the implications of these results for theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Secondary trauma is recognised as one of the negative effects for professionals working with people that have experienced trauma. Research has demonstrated secondary trauma in foster carers but little research has explored trauma symptoms within adoptive parents, facing the emotional impact of parenting a child with adverse early experiences. This study aimed to document the rates of primary and secondary trauma symptoms in adoptive parents. It further explores the association between the extent of current behavioural and emotional challenges and the extent of the child's pre-adoption adverse experiences in predicting parental trauma responses. Method: 190 adoptive parents completed an online survey including self-report measures of primary and secondary trauma. Results: Almost one fifth of adoptive parents exhibited primary trauma scores of clinical concern; with 10% reaching the threshold for a probable diagnosis of PTSD. Participants also reported significantly higher levels of secondary trauma and burnout, and significantly lower levels of compassion satisfaction than population norms. The current behavioural and emotional challenges, including child-to-parent violence, predicted higher trauma scores more so than the extent of their child's past adverse experiences. Conclusions: The findings have clinical implications for identifying trauma symptoms within adoptive parents and wider implications for how we understand secondary and primary trauma. They further highlight the importance of firstly addressing current child behaviour, including child-to-parent violence when treating trauma symptoms. Limitations of this study and recommendations for further research are discussed. Plain language summary: Aims: This study aimed to explore primary and secondary trauma symptoms in adoptive parents. It further explores the impact of current behavioural and emotional challenges and the impact of the child's pre-adoption adverse experiences in predicting parental trauma responses. Method: 190 adoptive parents completed an online survey including self-report measures of primary and secondary trauma. Results: Almost one fifth of adoptive parents exhibited primary trauma scores of clinical concern; with 10% reaching the threshold for a probable diagnosis of PTSD. The current behavioural and emotional challenges, including child-to-parent violence, predicted higher trauma scores more so than the extent of their child's past adverse experiences. Conclusions: The findings have clinical implications for identifying trauma symptoms within adoptive parents. They further highlight the importance of firstly addressing current child behaviour, including child-to-parent violence when treating trauma symptoms. Limitations of this study and recommendations for further research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have long been associated with attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD) diagnoses in children; but the data used is now over 6 years old (from 2017 to 2018). Understanding the current landscape of their prevalence and association is needed to capture evolving social, environmental, and economic conditions, and ensure interventions remain relevant to addressing current childhood trauma. Objective: This study provides an updated analysis of the association between ACEs and ADHD using post-acute-COVID-19 pandemic data. Participants and Setting: This cross-sectional study of 10,518 children aged 5 to 17 years old derived data from the 2021 to 2022 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Methods: Differences in the prevalence of number (0, 1–3, or 4+) and type of ACEs by ADHD diagnosis were evaluated using Rao-Scott chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression. All analyses incorporate complex survey weights. Results: In 2021 to 2022, 2,457 (23.3%) of children experienced ACEs and 1,115 (9.9%) had an ADHD diagnosis. Children with ADHD were more likely to experience every type of ACE and were more likely to have 1 to 3 or 4+ ACEs than children without ADHD. Children with 4+ ACEs had higher odds of having an ADHD diagnosis (aOR: 3.44, 95% CI [2.64, 4.49]) than children without ACEs. Male children, children with fair or poor health, and children living in rural counties were more likely to have an ADHD diagnosis, while children of color and uninsured children were less likely. We found the odds ratio of ADHD diagnosis for children with four or more ACEs, compared to those without ACEs, slightly lower than found in Brown et al., 2017's estimate of 3.97 (CI [3.29, 4.80]). These results suggest a consistent association between ACEs and ADHD when comparing pre-COVID data to our post-acute-COVID results. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for clinicians to consider traumatic stress in ADHD screening. Policymakers and early childhood organizations should encourage early screening and intervention for ACEs to reduce the impacts of ADHD diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: While most people experience potentially traumatic events (PTEs), including Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), the stress reactions to PTEs on mental health outcomes are highly heterogeneous. Resilience is influenced by a complex biopsychosocial ecological system, including gene serotonin transporter-linked promoter region or 5-HTTLPR /rs25531 by ACEs interactions. AIMS: This pilot study investigated the gene-by-environment interactions on mental health outcomes in adults enrolled in a health care profession program using a generalized additive model (GAM). METHODS: Seventy health care college students (mean age = 27.4 years, 67.1% women) participated in this cross-sectional study. Saliva samples were collected from students to analyze 5-HTTLPR /rs25531. Participants completed the ACE Questionnaire and the Mental Health Inventory. GAMs with different interaction terms were built adjusting for age, gender, and race. The value of the effective degree of freedom (EDF) quantifies the curvature of the relationship. RESULTS: Among participants with the long allele of 5-HTTLPR /rs25531, a linear pattern was found between the total ACE score and mental health outcomes (EDF = 1). Conversely, among participants with the short allele, EDF was approximately 2, indicating a curved association suggesting that mental health worsens in individuals exposed to up to four types of ACEs. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of up to four ACEs on mental health was stronger among individuals with the short allele of 5-HTTLPR /rs25531 than those with the long allele. Although this study does not claim to provide a definite approach to analyzing gene-by-environment interactions, we offer a different perspective to explore the relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite extant literature on individual-level risk factors for sex trafficking among children and adolescents, little is known about the impact of social and ecological contexts on risk of human trafficking victimization. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlates signaling risk of human trafficking victimization at the individual, family, social, and community levels utilizing a sample of 40,531 justice-involved male and female youth, a small fraction of whom were suspected or verified victims of human trafficking between 2011 and 2015 (N = 801, including 699 female and 102 male youth). Using this sample, we examined differences across individual, family, social, and community characteristics of youth involved in the juvenile justice system who have a history of trafficking victimization and youth without such histories. Series of logistic regression analyses were conducted using varying control groups, created through exact matching and randomized matching groups to address sample imbalances. These analyses indicate that, at the individual level, youth who had experienced childhood adversities were more likely to report human trafficking victimization. Sex differences were found regarding risk factors pertaining to the family and broader socio-ecological contexts. Female youth who had witnessed family violence had an antisocial partner or antisocial friends, or resided in a community with a greater proportion of the population being foreign-born or speaking English less than very well were at heightened risk for human trafficking victimization. Little evidence was found for community-level risk factors of victimization in this specific sample of justice-involved youth. These findings encourage more research to unpack the multilevel correlates of victimizations at the individual, family, social, and community levels, recognizing potential differences between female and male youth regarding the factors that put them at heightened risk for juvenile sex trafficking victimizations. Practice and policy should direct awareness and prevention measures to social and ecological contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child maltreatment (CM) poses significant risks to victims, resulting in enduring physical, psychological, and developmental consequences. Adult survivors of CM seem especially vulnerable to perinatal complications. However, existing research on perinatal outcomes presents mixed results and relies heavily on self-reported data, which may not align with official medical data. Hence, a systematic review using official health data may provide clarity on this association; it may orient future research and the provision of perinatal services. This scoping review aimed to synthesize and evaluate the quality of the literature that utilizes official health data to explore associations between CM and perinatal complications. Following Arksey and O'Malley's model, searches across four databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Scopus, and ProQuest Dissertations/Thesis) produced 8,870 articles. After screening, 23 articles met the inclusion criteria (e.g., recorded perinatal complications using official health data, and peer-reviewed studies or dissertation). Evidence indicates CM survivors have less prenatal care visits, more fetal loss and preterm births, lower gestational age, and increases in emergency cesarean sections. Adults had more cervical insufficiency, lower episiotomies and sphincter ruptures, and overall pregnancy and postpartum complications while adolescents had lower Apgar scores. No associations were observed on other outcomes (e.g., vaginal bleeding, group B streptococcus, and fetal distress). Mixed findings emerged for other perinatal and maternal health concerns such as birth weight and blood pressure. CM survivors may face an increased risk of experiencing perinatal complications. Findings point to the relevance of leveraging health data for CM research and adopting trauma-informed practices in perinatal services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past research suggests that children from two-parent married families fare better than children from other families on many outcomes. Only fragmented evidence on diverse family trajectories in association with child mental health is available. Using multi-channel sequence analysis and data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study, we jointly capture maternal partnership trajectories and type of father co-residence between birth and age 5. We then assess the association between these family trajectories and child mental health at age 5 and 8 using random effects regression. Children whose trajectories include the entrance of a non-biological father or parental separation have the lowest levels of mental health. However, children of never partnered mothers and those who repartner with the biological father have comparable mental health to children of stably married biological parents. Thus, not all types of family complexity or instability appear to be equally detrimental to children's mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood trauma adversely impacts adolescents, and consequently, they develop behavioural problems. Understanding the distribution of childhood traumas and their association with behavioural problems among adolescents is paramount for the preventive efforts. Aim/Objective: The present research aimed to investigate this association among adolescents. Methods: This association was investigated among adolescents (N = 200) between 12 and 18 years. Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire was used to assess the distribution of trauma and internalizing and externalizing behavioural problems among adolescents through purposive and convenience sampling technique. Results: The findings across trauma distribution indicated higher distribution of childhood abuse and neglect across males as compared to females. Males further significantly scored higher on sexual abuse and emotional neglect. Apparently, a large number of adolescents experienced all five sub types of childhood traumas (sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, emotional and physical neglect). Additionally, across the severity continuum of childhood traumas, male scored higher on the severe to extreme continuum for all subtypes except physical abuse, where females scored higher. Lastly, logistic regression analysis indicated higher peer problems among those adolescents who have experienced all types of childhood traumas. Conclusion: These findings could be beneficial for intervention-based programs and policies to help trauma-exposed adolescents cope with their lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has found significant links between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and worsened mental health outcomes in adulthood but has largely neglected the specific developmental period of the transition to college. The current study examined whether social factors (connectedness, integration, and support) moderated the links between ACEs and mental health. Participants (N = 129, Mage = 18.6) were first-year undergraduates who completed an anonymous online survey study. ACEs were found to significantly correlate with stress, anxiety, and depression. Of the three social factors, only social connectedness had a buffering effect on the association between ACEs with anxiety and depression. Thematic analysis of open-ended responses illuminated participant psychosocial challenges relating to difficulty with relationships, social avoidance, lack of trust, social comparison, and feelings of exclusion and loneliness. The current research highlights the key role of social connectedness in the psychosocial well-being of college students vulnerable to distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have well-documented that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with negative health outcomes, including suicidal thoughts and behaviors. As historically marginalized groups have long experienced poorer socio-emotional outcomes due to systemic and institutional racism, racial stress, and related factors, surprisingly little is known about how ACEs matter across racial/ethnic adolescent groups. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing data from the 2022 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS). Utilizing logistic regression models, we investigate how ACEs influence adolescent suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Results reveal a significant link between ACEs and these outcomes, indicating that higher ACE scores correlate with increased risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts. Racial/ethnic variations in ACE effects on suicidality are observed among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Latinx youth. We also find that despite generally experiencing fewer ACEs, Asian American youth were nearly 30% more likely to have suicidal thoughts than non-Hispanic White youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary focus of this study was to explore the parenting attitudes that predict abusive parenting among incarcerated mothers in Japan. Data analyzed on 63 incarcerated mothers who had the legal custody of the youngest child revealed that belief in corporal punishment significantly predicted abusive parenting. The data further revealed that the impact of adverse childhood experiences and the parenting style of an intimate partner remained significant in predicting the risk of abusive parenting. These multiple risk factors affecting child abuse perpetration indicate the need to develop a multi-dimensional intervention in prison settings to address those multiple issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to describe the childhood experiences of polio patients after the isolation phase of the disease in post-war Finland in the 1950s and 1960s. Qualitative empirical research was conducted. Interview material was gathered through theme-based written interviews, and the data were analyzed using reflective thematic analysis. The analysis resulted in the overarching main theme of "constructing psychological safety," which reflected the themes "emotionally inadequate care," "reclaiming physical identity," and "the need to construct a child's world." These themes and their subthemes highlighted children's experiences of the rules set by adults as well as their subordinate relationships with adults. Polio survivors' experiences following the isolation phase of the disease were traumatic and demonstrated children's inferior position in nursing in Finland in the 1950s and 1960s. Specifically, children recovering from polio experienced traumatic treatment and care and loneliness even beyond the isolation phase of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a global public health crisis associated with physical and poor mental health outcomes. The current study examined the prevalence and association between individual and cumulative ACEs with mental distress among adolescents and youth in Zimbabwe. Data from the 2017 Violence Against Children and Youth Survey were utilized (13–25 years old, n = 8,715). Bivariate analysis was conducted using chi-square tests to obtain the prevalence estimates. Two sets of logistic regression models were conducted to determine significant associations between independent variables (i.e., experiencing childhood physical, emotional, and sexual violence; witnessing intimate partner violence (IPV) and community violence; orphan status; and cumulative ACE exposure) and the dependent variable (i.e., mental distress in the past 30 days as measured by Kelser 6). 28.4% of the adolescents and youth reported experiencing mental distress in the past 30 days. Regarding ACEs, cumulative ACE exposure (34.7%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.13) and individual ACEs (i.e., experiencing childhood physical violence [39.3%; AOR = 1.41], emotional violence [55.8%; AOR = 2.67], sexual violence [50.8%; AOR = 2.00], witnessing community violence [47.3%; AOR = 1.52], witnessing IPV [43.1%; AOR = 1.47], and being orphaned during childhood [33.6%; AOR = 1.24]) were significantly associated with higher prevalence rates and odds of experiencing mental distress in the past 30 days among adolescents and youth in Zimbabwe. These findings show that ACEs are highly prevalent and increases the risk of mental distress for vulnerable adolescents and youth in Zimbabwe. Effective interventions to reduce violence exposure in families, schools, and communities are essential to mitigate the negative consequences of ACEs and mental distress of adolescents and youth in Zimbabwe. Strengthening child protection policies and involving social workers, psychologists, and mental health workers are also crucial for safeguarding vulnerable children who might be impacted by ACEs in Zimbabwe. Implications for future research are further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: An emerging field of research seeks to understand the experiences of non-offending adults who experience sexual attraction towards children. Research indicates that this largely hidden population can experience significant mental ill health and suicidal ideation, yet are reluctant to seek professional mental health support. Furthermore, mental ill health has been identified as a factor that can increase the likelihood of offending. This study, undertaken by a social work practitioner researcher, aimed to assist in understanding suicidality factors within this population, and to identify how statutory mental health services could be developed for this client group, thus contributing to child protection and suicide prevention agendas. A qualitative analysis was undertaken of data gathered from an online forum used by adults who have sexual attraction towards children, and are committed to non-offending. The data related to forum members' experiences of suicidality, and key themes were identified through thematic analysis. Findings: The study found that a pattern of suicidal ideation commonly appears to manifest and identified risk and protective factors that can influence suicidality. The benefits of peer support and the strengths and limitations of professional support were also identified. Applications: The findings from this study contribute to an improved understanding of this client group for mental health practitioners. The findings also lay the foundation for further investigations, to inform the development of mental health services to facilitate improved outcomes for this client group, and for child protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates how parenting stress mediates the intergenerational continuity of childhood adversity in teenage mothers. Childhood adversity experiences of caregivers significantly affect their offspring's exposure to childhood adversity. However, little is known about the mechanisms linking childhood adversity across generations. The study measures how parental distress and parent-child dysfunctional interaction mediate the association between teen mothers' childhood adversity and their offspring's adversity, measuring when the offspring reached 11.5 years of age. The results revealed that parental distress, but not parent-child dysfunctional interaction, mediated the association between teen mothers' child abuse and their offspring's household dysfunction. This suggests that parental distress may be a crucial intervention target to prevent the intergenerational continuity of childhood adversity. The findings imply that efforts to prevent the intergenerational continuity of childhood adversity may be more successful if the public and professionals have a broader understanding of the associations between early adversity and parenting contexts. In conclusion, the study shed light on the potential mechanisms underlying the intergenerational continuity of childhood adversity and highlights the importance of targeting parenting stress, specifically parental distress, as an intervention strategy to prevent the perpetuation of childhood adversity across generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, a majority of children diagnosed with cancer are expected to grow up and live—hopefully until old age. Still, knowledge of the lived experience of childhood cancer survivors is sparse. In pursuit of knowledge expansion, by combining my intersecting roles as an academic, educational counselor, and childhood cancer survivor, I approach my personal illness narrative. By means of evocative autoethnography, I write intentionally vulnerably about my experiences and make them available for consideration. I explore my narrative through archives, artifacts, memories of the past, and conversations evoked in the present. I re-visit the cultural landscape of a southern Norwegian girl growing up in the 00s with cancer. Through this, my illness narrative presents as positioned, tangled, and interwoven with a developmental trajectory. Specific educational experiences seem to linger, and many are related to being absent from or re-entering school after the onset of illness. To grasp the intersecting and conflicting experiences of being very ill while also young, I suggest Erik Erikson's moratorium as a key concept. To complement Arthur Frank's illness narratives of restitution, chaos, and quest, I establish the moratorium narrative. As a fresh resource, the moratorium narrative underlines the need to make sensitive our academic community's gaze on illness trajectories unfolding in formative phases and illness narratives defined by growing up. By providing a point of recognition that prompts elaboration, this could also provide the young and very ill with a much-needed narrative space of opportunity, of which more narratives are invited and insisted upon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty-six percent of children in the United States experience a potentially traumatic event (PTE), also known as an Adverse Childhood Experience (or ACE), including abuse (physical, sexual, emotional), neglect, and/or household dysfunction (incarceration of a family member, parental mental illness, divorce, etc.) before their 18th birthday. In the United States, 61% of African-American youth experience at least one ACE (more than any other racial or ethnic group), compared with 40% of White children. A culturally informed conceptualization of the ACEs framework (C-ACEs) that considers the effects of historical trauma, racist social conditions, and race-based biological stress on African-American youth is essential. This is particularly important in K-12 Educational institutions for two reasons: (1) Schools are a major environment in which African-American youth are exposed to racial trauma via teachers, peers, policies, and practices within the school itself; (2) Popularity of the "trauma-informed" movement in schools that overemphasizes and overuses the existing ACEs framework (i.e., a "neoliberal biomedical trauma model") and does not consider larger systems that cause and perpetuate trauma (p. 105). Further, it is essential to review how school teachers, administrators, and staff can amalgamate Systemically Trauma-Informed Practice (SysTIP) with Culturally Relevant Education (CRE) to increase education equity, reduce the trauma of racism experienced within educational spaces, and help ensure that African-American students succeed academically and personally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firearm violence is a persistent public health crisis in the United States, with over 100,000 individuals being shot every year. This violence not only affects those directly injured but also thousands of youth who are exposed to indirect forms of firearm violence, such as witnessing gunfire or losing a family member to gun violence. Firearms are the leading cause of death among children and teens in the U.S., with youth of color disproportionately affected. Additionally, there has been an increase in adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the U.S., which further exacerbates the negative outcomes for children. This special issue of Youth & Society presents new research on the impacts of firearm violence on youth, including disparities, prevention efforts, and interventions. The findings highlight the need for preventive efforts that account for racial and ethnic groups, screening for suicide risk among younger adolescents, and addressing systemic factors that drive firearm violence outcomes. The research also explores the associations between firearm-related beliefs and perceived ease of firearm access with firearm exposure and police violence exposure. The studies provide insights into specific interventions and challenge presumptions about youth and their perceptions of safety. The research also identifies protective factors and pathways for mental health support and interventions for adolescents exposed to firearm violence. The implementation of firearm purchaser licensing laws has been found to be associated with lower rates of violence. Overall, this body of research contributes to the growing field of firearm violence prevention and offers opportunities for effective solutions to address this public health crisis. The impacts of firearm violence on youth are extensive and lifelong, [Extracted from the article]

This study examined the influence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on Black sexual minority women's mental health and substance use disorders in adulthood. Secondary data analysis was conducted using N = 149 Black sexual minority women's reports from the Generations Study. Study variables included psychological distress, chronic strains, stressful life events, ACEs, and substance use disorders, including alcohol use disorder and drug use disorder. Quantitative data analysis consisted of descriptives and bivariate correlations. Participants' total ACE scores were positively significantly correlated with increased alcohol misuse, chronic life strains, and stressful life events. Exposure to household interpersonal violence and household mental illness during childhood were significantly correlated with alcohol misuse. Black sexual minority women with ACEs are at higher risk for mental health concerns throughout their lifespan and maladaptive coping strategies (e.g., substance use). Implications for counselors and therapists are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female offenders released from prison often face challenges within the community such as lack of employment, inconsistent attendance in substance use treatment, and complying with parole and probation conditions, which typically decreases their self-efficacy and motivation to refrain from reoffending. Despite this, much is still unknown of psychological factors that could impact female offenders' attitudes toward self-efficacy, such as mental illness symptoms, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and personality differences. Thus, this cross-sectional study explored whether mental illness symptoms, ACEs, and personality differences were associated with attitudes toward self-efficacy (N = 398). Results suggest that mental illness symptoms, ACEs, and neuroticism negatively associated with attitudes toward self-efficacy in contrast to extraversion and conscientiousness. Parole/probation reentry and therapeutic implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traumatic experiences in an early phase of an individual's life stand out as a highly influential risk factor for poor developmental outcomes. Studies examining poor childhood experiences revealed childhood trauma linked to a negative impact on mental health. Therefore, the objective of this study is to comprehend and investigate the subjective childhood experiences of the affected children. Methods: A qualitative approach was adopted to explore the lived experiences with their consequences. The study employed a purposeful sampling technique to choose adolescents who had encountered abuse and were capable of articulating their experiences with clarity. In-depth interviews were carried out with 18 adolescents aged 13–18 years, all from childcare homes (mean = 16, SD = 1.46). The transcriptions of these interviews were analyzed using a thematic approach. Results: The analysis indicated that the children experienced physical abuse, sexual abuse, rape, abandonment, and neglected home environment. The children took responsibility for the abuse directed toward them and were also engaged in substance use. They further reported experiencing negative effects on their behavioral functions (anger, isolation), cognitive function (difficulty in concentration, low academic performances), emotional function (fear, helplessness), social function (withdrawal, mutism), and biological function (sleeplessness, lack of appetite) due to the adverse events in their life. Perceived needs, for instance, emotional, social, and educational support and positive relationship, as well as growth from traumatic experiences were stated by the children. Conclusion: The findings of the study could have practical implications for clinicians, aiding in the understanding of low emotional expression and unexplained behavior among individuals and assisting in addressing the underlying vulnerability to facilitate their overcoming of these challenges. Additionally, it is suggested that a comprehensive strategy be used that addresses stigma, cultural values, and social norms in addition to legal issues to address the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black same-gender-loving (SGL) men (BSGLM) bear a disproportionate burden of depression. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been found to predict depression among this group. However, little research has examined the mechanisms that may account for this relationship. This study aimed to examine how stress appraisal explained the association between ACEs and depression. This cross-sectional study leveraged survey data from 169 BSGLM residing in the United States. Utilizing Hayes' PROCESS Macro (Model 4), we found that five different dimensions of stress appraisal were significant partial mediators of the association between ACEs and depression. Specifically, ACEs predicted lower levels of stress appraisal dimensions consistent with an optimal worldview, which in turn were inversely associated with depressive symptoms. ACEs predicted higher levels of stress appraisal dimensions consistent with a suboptimal worldview, which in turn were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Effects sizes ranged from small to large. Implications of these findings for clinical care and research with BSGLM were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known determinants of negative health outcomes. Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals have higher ACE scores than non-SGM individuals. The SGM-ACE scale was developed to better assess this population but is not yet validated in SGM subgroups. AIMS: This study aims to validate the sexual and gender minority adverse childhood experiences (SGM-ACE) scale among sexual minority men (SMM) and sexual minority women (SMW), while testing measurement invariance across both groups. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey included 530 sexual minority adults (265 men, 265 women) in the United States. Cronbach's alpha established internal consistency reliability. Validity was assessed via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for the SGM-ACE's theoretical structure and Pearson's correlations for concurrent validity with substance use outcomes (alcohol, cannabis, and drugs). Multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM) determined measurement invariance between SMM and SMW. RESULTS: The CFA of the original model exhibited good fit. Fit was improved after removing the institutionalization item, chi-square (χ 2) = 14.26, degrees of freedom (df) = 9, p = 0.113, minimum discrepancy (CMIN/ df) = 1.59, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.99, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.03, 90% confidence interval (CI): (0.00–0.06), and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.02. Internal consistency reliability was established (α = 0.78). SGM-ACE exhibited weak, yet significant relationships with each substance use outcome. Multigroup SEM indicated measurement invariance between SMM and SMW. CONCLUSION: This study provides psychometric validation of the SGM-ACE, establishing measurement invariance between SMM and SMW. Future research should explore its utility in diverse SGM minority subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This meta-analysis quantitatively synthesizes existing literature to investigate the relationship between aggregations of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and recidivism among court-involved youth and adults. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed, and moderation analyses were conducted. Sixteen studies (published n = 12), encompassing 101,778 unique participants (girls/women = 21.1%; adults n = 1,204), met the inclusion criteria. A small overall effect size revealed that an accumulation of ACEs increased the odds of reoffending. The relationship between ACEs and recidivism was only statistically significant for the subgroup of studies using youth samples. In addition, ACEs only predicted recidivism in the subgroup of published studies (compared to dissertations). Other moderators (gender, study location, recidivism time frame) were not significant. Our results suggest that courts, particularly youth courts, would benefit from screening for cumulative ACEs to help identify those most at risk for reoffending and in need of intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic pain is highly prevalent and burdensome, affecting millions of people worldwide. Although it emerges at any point in life, it often manifests in adolescence. Given that adolescence is a unique developmental period, additional strains associated with persistent and often idiopathic pain lead to significant long-term consequences. While there is no singular cause for the chronification of pain, epigenetic modifications that lead to neural reorganization may underpin central sensitization and subsequent manifestation of pain hypersensitivity. Epigenetic processes are particularly active during the prenatal and early postnatal years. We demonstrate how exposure to various traumas, such as intimate partner violence while in utero or adverse childhood experiences, can significantly influence epigenetic regulation within the brain and in turn modify pain-related processes. We provide compelling evidence that the burden of chronic pain is likely initiated early in life, often being transmitted from mother to offspring. We also highlight two promising prophylactic strategies, oxytocin administration and probiotic use, that have the potential to attenuate the epigenetic consequences of early adversity. Overall, we advance understanding of the causal relationship between trauma and adolescent chronic pain by highlighting epigenetic mechanisms that underlie this transmission of risk, ultimately informing how to prevent this rising epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examined the mediating role of resilience and living in care experiences between risk exposure (victimization by community and adverse childhood experiences) and psychosocial outcomes (housing instability, delinquency, and post-traumatic stress reactions) for youth receiving child welfare and community services. Method: Two hundred and fifty-one youths (14–19 years old) who are receiving interventions from the Department of Community Services in Nova Scotia, Canada, were recruited. Multiple measures were administered to the youth. Results and conclusion: Resilience and experiences of living in care significantly mediated the relationship between risk factors and outcomes, with youth demographic characteristics influencing the pattern of these relationships. Findings suggested that resilience and living in care experiences could reduce the effects of risk factors on psychosocial outcomes. These findings demonstrate a role for Child Welfare agencies in promoting youth access to the resilience-enabling resources necessary to sustain well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a well documented connection between children's exposure to adverse childhood events (ACEs) and the risk of negative outcomes. However, many children with ACE exposure go on to perform fairly well in life, due to the support from multiple interacting systems within and around them. Resilience science has led to the development of creative interventions and policies that prevent negative outcomes for children. There is growing attention, though, to the promotion of positive outcomes such as flourishing, which matters profoundly to individual and collective well-being. Flourishing has not been well examined in young people exposed to adversity, especially in early childhood. The objective of this work is to identify family-level mechanisms that support children's flourishing amid adversity. It draws from a nationally representative sample of children from the United States under the age of six (n = 8,174) who were included in the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). In addition to surveys on ACE exposure, the NSCH used a four-item index to measure children's flourishing, which was operationalized as positive emotionality, relational health, and emotional resilience. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) with path analysis, this work found that exposure to ACEs was negatively and directly associated with children's flourishing, but that children in families with higher family resilience showed higher levels of flourishing. Furthermore, there were indirect associations between ACEs and flourishing, where about 60% of the effect of ACEs on flourishing was mediated through family resilience. We offer program- and policy-level suggestions for enhancing young children's flourishing through promotion of family resilience and prevention of ACEs. Plain Language Summary: Family resilience helps young children thrive even in difficult times This study looked at how family resilience can help young children thrive even after difficult life events. Results showed that children from families who talk through problems, stay hopeful, and work together tend to show more curiosity, laughter, and ability to bounce back. Building family resilience may help promote children's wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research suggests that prior victimizations during a person's lifetime, particularly childhood traumas and maltreatment, are risk factors for abuse and revictimization in adulthood, although longitudinal evidence is sparse. Using data from a 30-year ongoing longitudinal study of the long-term consequences of childhood maltreatment, this paper describes the extent to which childhood maltreatment predicts subsequent victimization and partner violence victimization at two time points in adulthood. Data were obtained from a prospective cohort design study in which children with court-substantiated cases of maltreatment (ages 0–11 years) and demographically matched controls were followed into adulthood and interviewed over several waves. Childhood maltreatment was assessed through juvenile and adult court records from 1967 to 1971 in a midwestern county area in the United States. Victimization experiences were assessed from 2000 to 2002 (M age = 39.5 years) and 2009 to 2010 (M age = 47.5) and included two types based on information from the lifetime trauma and victimization history instrument and questions about past year partner violence victimization. Individuals with histories of childhood maltreatment were more likely to report physical and sexual assaults and kidnapping and stalking victimization than controls through age 39.5. In contrast, the two groups did not differ at the later assessment at age 47.5, except maltreated individuals reported greater risk for sexual assault/abuse than controls. For intimate partner violence victimization at age 39.5, maltreated and control groups differed only in terms of victimization involving injury. Later in adulthood, more individuals with histories of childhood maltreatment reported partner physical violence victimization compared to controls. Although these longitudinal findings showed a general decline in victimization experiences over the two time points, these results demonstrate that childhood maltreatment increases risk for subsequent revictimization in middle adulthood, specifically for sexual assault/abuse and intimate partner physical violence victimization. These findings have implications for prevention and intervention efforts targeting maltreated children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the documented increasing prevalence of elder abuse victimization and its devastating health effects, a life-course view of the victimization experiences of older adults has rarely been adopted in the elder abuse literature. The current study investigated lifetime links between victimization experiences by examining the indirect effect of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) on elder abuse victimization via intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization in middle adulthood, and whether this indirect association would differ by gender. Using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, we analyzed the previous and current victimization experiences of a total of 5,391 older adults in their early 70s and estimated mediational and moderated mediation models. The key results indicated that a higher ACE score was associated with exposure to IPV victimization in middle adulthood, which was in turn associated with exposure to elder abuse victimization. This indirect association was stronger for women than for men. Regarding specific types of childhood victimization, parental physical abuse, sexual abuse, and witnessing domestic violence significantly predicted elder abuse victimization via IPV victimization. Our results support the phenomenon of lifetime victimization, whereby an individual experiences reoccurring forms of victimization across the life course from childhood to late adulthood. Findings highlight the compelling need for the assessment of cumulative victimization experiences and their impact on elder abuse victims. A life-course-based, trauma-informed approach would greatly enhance prevention and intervention services for elder abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A strong relation between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and aggression has been established in adult populations, with less research examining this relation earlier in development. The purpose of this study was to complete a scoping review of the current evidence available on the relation between ACE and aggression and subtypes of aggression within a child and adolescent population. Inclusion criteria for the review included publications in English between 1998 and 2023, use of a child/adolescent population, and peer-review and quantitative publications. Databases searched included PubMed, APA PsycINFO, Scopus, and EBSCO, and search terms included words related to ACE and aggression. Initial selection was based on title and abstract, with 32 papers meeting eligibility criteria for inclusion. Two authors extracted the relevant characteristics of the studies independently and conferred on any disagreements. The overall findings from the scoping review suggest that there is a strong link between aggression and ACE; however, this link may not be as strong for specific subtypes of aggression. Additionally, characteristics of ACE may play role in understanding this relation, but little research is available within a child and adolescent population. A few studies have attempted to examine potential mediators and moderators of this relation; however, none have been replicated within a child and adolescent population. The findings from this review support the need for additional research in this area and identify significant gaps in the literature that need to be addressed within a child and adolescent population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to quantify the association of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the academic performance of children and adolescents. The literature was systematically searched in six electronic databases, and a meta-analysis was conducted. Twenty studies with a total of 1,196,631 children and adolescents from five countries were included. Meta-analysis showed that ACE score was positively associated with poor academic achievement, grade repetition, and special education support. Compared with children and adolescents without any ACE, those with one or more ACE had a significantly higher risk of poor academic achievement (pooled odds ratio [OR]: 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.13, 1.85], I 2 = 82.6%) and grade repetition (pooled OR: 1.36, 95% CI [1.29, 1.43], I 2 = 71.0%). Moreover, all types of ACEs were positively associated with poor academic achievement and grade repetition. In addition, there was a significant dose-response relationship between the ACE score and the risk of poor academic achievement. This study supported that ACE had a significant impact on the academic performance of children and adolescents. Based on these findings, we recommend that early screening of ACEs for children and adolescent is critical and appropriate support and prevention in education should be developed for those with ACEs. Further studies are needed to further explore the long-term effect of ACEs on education and its gender differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scoping review explores the breadth and depth to which Domestic Violence Intervention Programs (DVIPs) in the United States and globally: (a) incorporate components that address the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and social injustice, racism, economic inequality, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs); (b) use restorative (RJ)/transformative justice (TJ) practices, individualized case management, partnerships with social justice actors, and strengths-based parenting training in current programming; and (c) measure effectiveness. In 2021, we searched 12 academic databases using a combination of search terms and Medical Subject Headings. In all, 27 articles that discussed at least one key concept relative to DVIP curricula were included in the final review. Findings suggest that very few DVIPs address ACEs and/or the relationship between structural violence, social inequality, and IPV perpetration. Even fewer programs use restorative practices including RJ or TJ. Furthermore, DVIPs use inconsistent methods and measures to evaluate effectiveness. To respond to IPV perpetration more effectively and create lasting change, DVIPs must adopt evidence-informed approaches that prioritize social and structural determinants of violence, trauma-informed care, and restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) has emerged as a critical child protection and public health concern in recent years. While the phenomenon is prevalent globally, its impact is compounded in sub-Saharan Africa owing to the cultural and socioeconomic challenges that leave many households in the region vulnerable. The present study synthesized existing evidence using the socioecological model as a guiding framework to assess the risk and protective factors associated with CSEC in sub-Saharan Africa. A protocol for the study was published in PROSPERO (CRD42022331832) with pre-specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Studies were screened and extracted from eight databases: PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, PROQUEST (Social Science Premium), PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE via Ovid. After an initial screening of 4,377 papers, seven studies were found eligible for the final review. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guide for reporting systematic reviews. Included studies were appraised and rated using the Cambridge Quality Checklist and GRADE. Findings revealed risk factors, including adverse childhood experience and victimization, females aged 16 years and older, school dropouts, technology influence, child and parental alcohol use, and separation from caregivers. On the other hand, protective factors such as the number of female adolescents in a household, frequent health screening in schools, children being in school, and high parental monitoring were found to be associated with a lower risk of CSEC. Based on these findings, we recommend that interventions in sub-Saharan Africa adopt a holistic approach that addresses identified risk factors while harnessing protective factors to combat CSEC effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turbulent changes in early life are a hidden source of childhood trauma, increasing potential risks for mental illness. Many studies have identified the link between childhood uncertainty and mental health. However, research on the long-term effect of early-life uncertainty (EU) on mental health has not been systematically synthesized. This meta-analysis aims to provide a quantitative estimate of the association between EU and subsequent mental health outcomes. Eight electronic databases and gray literature were searched. Twenty-eight studies met our inclusion criteria: samples of non-clinical adolescents or adults and clear and valid assessments. Random-effect models were used to calculate the pooled effect sizes of EU on internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and well-being. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were used to explore potential moderators. Results indicated small to moderate associations involving EU and internalizing problem (r =.28; 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.228, 0.326]) and externalizing problem (r =.16; 95% CI [0.102, 0.220]). EU was not significantly associated with well-being (r = −.41; 95% CI [−0.738, 0.071]). Furthermore, moderator analyses found that composite uncertain experiences in childhood had a stronger negative effect than single experiences. EU was a stronger predictor of mental health problems in adults than in adolescents. Cross-sectional studies would amplify the correlation between EU and mental illness compared to longitudinal studies. In the future, childhood uncertain and unpredictable risks should receive more attention. More research needs to focus on positive psychological indicators and samples from non-Western countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although numerous factors have been found to influence postpartum depression (PPD), no previous meta-analysis have systematically explored whether it is affected by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). This study aimed to explore the influence of ACEs and their subtypes on PPD. A systematic literature search was conducted using Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Wan Fang, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Chinese Biomedical Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and literature was screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Methodological quality assessment and data extraction were performed on the included studies. A random-effects model was used to pool the effects. In total, 24 studies were included, and 73 independent effects were extracted from them. The meta-analysis revealed that ACE was a risk factor for PPD (odds ratio [OR] = 2.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] [2.04, 2.63]). The subgroup analysis results showed that emotional abuse was the ACE subtype most strongly related to the occurrence of PPD (OR = 2.95, 95% CI [2.08, 4.20]), followed by emotional neglect (OR = 2.87, 95% CI [1.89, 4.36]) and sexual abuse (OR = 2.81, 95% CI [1.93, 4.09]). In addition, family member incarceration (OR = 2.62, 95% CI [1.51, 4.54]), physical abuse (OR = 2.31, 95% CI [1.67, 3.19]), and physical neglect (OR = 2.15, 95% CI [1.36, 3.39]) also have strong effects on PPD. ACE is a risk factor for PPD. Early screening of ACE plays an important role in the prevention and intervention of PPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]