Adversity and Child Adjustment: The Moderating Role of Family Resilience

• In Event: Poster Session 04
  In Poster Session: PS 04 Topic - Developmental Psychopathology

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are widely accepted as a robust risk factor for the development of psychopathology, including for ADHD and conduct problems (CP). Notably, however, many ACE-exposed children are well-adjusted. Accordingly, ample research has been devoted to identifying resilience characteristics that promote health and well-being in this population. These studies have traditionally focused on contributions of children’s individual resilience characteristics rather than family characteristics. Nevertheless, research has shown that individual strengths may only distinguish resilient from non-resilient children under conditions of low, but not high stress (Jaffee et al., 2007). For children who faced ACEs, personal resources alone may not be sufficient to promote adaptive functioning. However, parental and family supports may buffer against or offset the deleterious effects of ACEs on externalizing behaviors (Crea, Chan, & Barth, 2014). Thus family supports may ameliorate the pernicious effects of ACEs on children’s behavioral health. The present study examined the effect of ACEs on children’s behavioral competence, ADHD, and CP, and whether family resilience would moderate their associations.

Participants included children ages 6 to 17 years (N = 21,954; Male: 52.5%; M age=12.12, SD=3.45) whose families completed the 2018 National Survey of Children’s Health. Parents reported on children’s ACEs exposure, behavioral competence (learning, self-regulation, and task persistence), and binary indicators of the presence or absence of ADHD and CP. Parents also reported their levels of family resilience (e.g., ability to collaboratively problem solve and maintain optimism during challenging times).

Three multiple regressions were run to examine the effects of ACEs, family resilience, and their interactions on each of the child behavioral outcomes. The models included demographics and ACEs (block 1), family resilience (block 2), and family resilience x ACEs (block 3). Results indicated that more ACEs were significantly associated with less behavioral competence, and with a greater likelihood of having ADHD and CP (see Table 1). The interaction effects of ACEs and family resilience were significantly associated with behavioral competence and CP. Specifically, children with more ACEs exhibited greater behavioral competence and decreased risk of CP when parents reported higher family resilience compared to those with high ACEs and low family resilience (see Figure 1). Family resilience was associated with more behavioral competence, and with a lower likelihood of ADHD and CP.

Consistent with extant literature, ACEs were associated with higher risks of ADHD and CP, as well as lower behavioral competence. Interestingly, ACEs may impact children ages 6-11 more than children ages 12-17 years. Family resilience is associated with lower risk of CP and greater behavioral competence in both younger and older ACE-exposed children. Results lend support for the notion that family resilience may play an important role in influencing children’s adjustment in the aftermath of ACEs. Interventions should focus not only on the child, but also consider ways in which to leverage family strengths.

Authors

• Laura Welch, State University of New York at Albany (SUNY Albany)
  Presenting Author

• Atara Siegel, State University of New York at Albany (SUNY Albany)
  Non-Presenting Author

• Anna J Yeo, State University of New York at Albany (SUNY Albany)
  Non-Presenting Author

• Betty Lin, State University of New York at Albany (SUNY Albany)
  Non-Presenting Author