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Adverse Childhood Experiences and Children’s Mental Health: The Role of Parenting Stress and Family Resilience

Mon, August 10, 5:10 to 6:10pm PDT (5:10 to 6:10pm PDT), Hilton San Francisco Union Square, Floor: Ballroom Level, Imperial B

Abstract

Introduction: Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has harmful consequences for children’s health and well-being. However, it is less clear how different social processes may amplify or mitigate the effects of ACEs on children’s mental health. We examined how parenting stress mediates and family resilience moderates the associations of ACEs with children’s mental health and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) outcomes.
Methods: This secondary data analysis included 44,684 children aged 6-17 years from the 2016-17 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). Logistic regression with survey weights was used to account for the complex survey design and obtain odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI adjusted for sociodemographics.
Results: Overall, 7.3% of children had any mental health condition and 10.4% had ADHD. A higher ACE score (per 1-unit increase) was associated with a higher prevalence of any mental health condition (OR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.27-1.40) and ADHD (OR=1.21; 95% CI: 1.15-1.27) after adjustment for sociodemographics. Parenting stress mediated 57.1% of the total effect of ACE on any mental health condition and 59.7% of the total effect of ACE on ADHD diagnosis. The effect of ACE on mental health and ADHD outcomes was stronger among children with low levels of family resilience and connection index (FRCI) than among those with higher levels of FRCI.
Conclusions: Parenting stress may be a potential mechanism through which ACE impacts a child’s mental health and behavioral outcomes. Family resilience can lessen the impact of ACE on children’s mental health and behavioral disorders.

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