Nicole Racine1, Rachel Eirich2, Gina Dimitropoulos1, Cailey Hartwick3, Sheri Madigan4. 1. University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, 3B2X9, Calgary, AB, Canada. 2. University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada. 3. Child Abuse Service, Alberta Children's Hospital, 3820 24 Avenue NW, T2P 2M5, Calgary, AB, Canada. 4. University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, 3B2X9, Calgary, AB, Canada. Electronic address: sheri.madigan@ucalgary.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although the buffering effect of protective factors on children's outcomes following exposure to adverse childhood experiences has been well documented, research gaps remain as to whether this buffering effect differs based on the type of adversity experienced (i.e., maltreatment versus household dysfunction). OBJECTIVE: To examine whether protective factors moderate the association between cumulative adversity, as well as adversity subtypes (i.e., maltreatment and household dysfunction) and child trauma-related distress in a clinical sample referred for treatment following exposure to adversity. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: One-hundred and seventy-six children (aged 3-18) referred to a child abuse treatment clinic and who's files were opened between January 2016 and June 2017 were included. METHODS: Data were collected, extracted, and coded from clinical files using a standardized data extraction protocol. Protective factors included: using individual coping strategies, peer support, individual social skills, caregiver physical caregiving, caregiver psychological caregiving, and educational involvement. RESULTS: Cumulative childhood adversity (b = .16, p = .04) positively predicted child trauma-related distress. The link between exposure to cumulative adversity and child trauma-related distress varied as a function of protective factors: there was a positive association between adversity and child trauma-related distress for children who had low levels of protective factors, but not for those with high levels of protective factors (b=-0.56, p=<.001). Similar findings were observed when data was stratified by maltreatment and household dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Bolstering children's protective factors prior to, and during child abuse treatment, may reduce trauma-related distress following exposure to adversity.
BACKGROUND: Although the buffering effect of protective factors on children's outcomes following exposure to adverse childhood experiences has been well documented, research gaps remain as to whether this buffering effect differs based on the type of adversity experienced (i.e., maltreatment versus household dysfunction). OBJECTIVE: To examine whether protective factors moderate the association between cumulative adversity, as well as adversity subtypes (i.e., maltreatment and household dysfunction) and childtrauma-related distress in a clinical sample referred for treatment following exposure to adversity. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: One-hundred and seventy-six children (aged 3-18) referred to a child abuse treatment clinic and who's files were opened between January 2016 and June 2017 were included. METHODS: Data were collected, extracted, and coded from clinical files using a standardized data extraction protocol. Protective factors included: using individual coping strategies, peer support, individual social skills, caregiver physical caregiving, caregiver psychological caregiving, and educational involvement. RESULTS: Cumulative childhood adversity (b = .16, p = .04) positively predicted childtrauma-related distress. The link between exposure to cumulative adversity and childtrauma-related distress varied as a function of protective factors: there was a positive association between adversity and childtrauma-related distress for children who had low levels of protective factors, but not for those with high levels of protective factors (b=-0.56, p=<.001). Similar findings were observed when data was stratified by maltreatment and household dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Bolstering children's protective factors prior to, and during child abuse treatment, may reduce trauma-related distress following exposure to adversity.
Authors: Vivienne M Hazzard; Cynthia Yoon; Rebecca L Emery; Susan M Mason; Ross D Crosby; Stephen A Wonderlich; Dianne Neumark-Sztainer Journal: Child Abuse Negl Date: 2021-09-04
Authors: Anna Durbin; Bennett T Amaechi; Stephen Abrams; Andreas Mandelis; Sara Werb; Benjamin Roebuck; Janet Durbin; Ri Wang; Maryam Daneshvarfard; Konesh Sivagurunathan; Laurent Bozec Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-14 Impact factor: 3.390