Poster #57 - Future Orientation: Resilience among Maltreated Youth

• In Event: 2-055 - Poster Session 06
  In Poster Session: PS 06 Section - Developmental Psychopathology

Integrative Statement

INTRODUCTION
Child maltreatment (CM) is a major stressor for child development and is documented to increase youths’ risk for externalizing and internalizing psychopathology (Oshri et al., 2013) as well as health issues (Hussey et al., 2006). Despite the negative consequences linked to CM, many maltreated youth are able to orient to the future (Oshri et al., 2018) and pursue positive youth development (PYD), thus exhibiting resilience. Future orientation (FO), defined as youth’s ability to reflect about the future, has been shown to be an important protective factor against adversity (Allwood, 2012). Specifically, research reported FO to be associated with more positive developmental outcomes in adolescence such as academic engagement (Worrel and Mello, 2009) and less negative outcomes including violent behaviors and substance use (Stoddard et al., 2011, Robbins and Bryan, 2004). However, few longitudinal studies have examined future orientation as a promotive or protective factor among maltreated youth. Hence, the present study used a large national dataset to examine the role of FO in the development of resilience among maltreated youth.

METHODS
Data were obtained from the Longitudinal Studies on Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) consortium of studies. The sample includes 1,354 children (49.6% maltreated, 51.5% females, 26.1% White, 53.2% African-American, 7.2% Hispanic, 13.4% other). A CM (birth to age 14) sum score was calculated based on child protective service’s records of substantiation of four maltreatment types (physical, sexual, emotional abuse, and neglect). A confirmatory factor analysis was used to confirm the factor structure of FO at age 14 consisting of 3 domains: Education & Career (α=.84), Employment (α = .65), and Family (α = .66). Delinquency (α = .89), substance use (a latent variable consisted of youth’s cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana past-year use frequency), self-esteem (α = .86), and health (mean score of mental and chronic health issues) were assessed at age 18.

RESULTS
Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the study models. Bivariate correlations were presented in Table 1. Model fit indices were acceptable (CFI=.926, RMSEA=.043, SRMR=.046). First, CM was significantly associated with delinquency (β=.090, p<.01), and health (β=-0.072, p<.01). Next, test of direct impact of youth FO showed that FO had significant direct impact on delinquency (see Figure 1; β = -0.198, p < .001), self-esteem (β = .298, p < .001), and health (β = .307, p < .001). Lastly, the interaction term of CM and FO significantly predicted delinquency (β = -0.317, p < .001), substance use (β = -0.152, p < .01), and health (β = 0.126, p < .01).

CONCLUSION
The findings highlighted the role of FO in the development of resilience among maltreated youth. Interventions could target fostering FO to promote positive youth development and protect youth against risks posed by CM.

Authors

• Zehua Cui, University of Georgia
  Presenting Author

• Sihong Liu, University of Georgia
  Non-Presenting Author

• Assaf Oshri, University of Georgia
  Non-Presenting Author

• Landry Goodgame, University of Georgia
  Non-Presenting Author