A Person-Centered Approach to Family Risk and the Development of Emotional Well-Being in Early Adolescence

• In Event: Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: PS 10 Topic - Family Context & Processes

Abstract

Although prior work indicates that a) exposure to multiple family risk factors negatively impacts children’s adjustment (Appleyard, Egeland, van Dulmen, & Alan Sroufe, 2005) and b) different patterns of autonomic reactivity in early development may explain observed variability in the effects of environmental risk exposure on psychological outcomes (Ellis, Boyce, Belsky, Bakermans-Kranenburg, & Van Ijzendoorn, 2011), few studies have examined whether unique combinations of risk factors are differentially predictive of adjustment outcomes. Even less is known about environments that may promote resilience in highly reactive children who are particularly susceptible to adverse environments. This longitudinal study contributes to research on resilience by examining whether unique patterns, or subgroups, of established family risk for child maladjustment, and changes in group membership across time are differentially predictive of emotional well-being in early adolescence. The sample consisted of 216 caregiver–child dyads participating in a study of prenatal cocaine exposure (116 cocaine-exposed and 100 non-cocaine exposed; 49% boys). Assessments occurred when children were in early-infancy (1 month), late-infancy (7-13 months), toddlerhood (24 months), early-preschool (36 months), late-preschool (48 months), kindergarten (60 months) and EA (Myears = 13.26, SD = .83). In early-infancy, caregivers were on average 29.53 years old (SD = 6.06), and most were single (66%) and receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (76%). In EA, most adolescents identified as African American (57.6%). At each time, indicators of family risk included caregivers’ reports of their mental health, exposure to violence, and ongoing substance use (SU), as well as observed caregiver parenting (i.e., harshness, low warmth/sensitivity) during play interactions. Emotional well-being was assessed using adolescents’ reports of life satisfaction, happiness, and hope at the EA assessment. Four groups of risk exposure were identified using Latent Transition Analysis: 1) SU/negative parenting: scored high on SU and negative parenting, 2) SU/high family risks: scored high on SU, poor mental health, exposure to violence, and negative parenting, 3) SU/low family risk: scored high on SU and low on family risks and 4) low-risk: scored low on SU and family risks (see Table 1). SU/negative parenting was the most prevalent group (36% to 40%) and the SU/low family risk group was the least prevalent group (18% to 11%) across time. Results indicated that the SU/high family risk, SU/negative parenting and low-risk groups were relatively stable from late infancy to kindergarten age (see Table 2). Stability was lowest for the SU/low family risks group; children in this group had the highest probability of transitioning to the SU/negative parenting status. Interestingly, the likelihood of transitioning from any of the risk statuses into the low-risk status was low. Finally, for EA outcomes, the low risks group reported higher levels of hope than the SU/high family risk and the SU/negative parenting groups. However, the SU/negative parenting group reported higher happiness than the low risks and the SU/high family risk. There were no group differences in life satisfaction across time. Discussion focuses on implications for tailored intervention strategies to promote well-being among at-risk youth

Authors

• Danielle Marie Seay, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Presenting Author

• Rina D. Eiden, The Pennsylvania State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Amanda Nickerson, State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo)
  Non-Presenting Author

• Pamela Schuetze, State University of New York Buffalo State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jenae M Neiderhiser, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Non-Presenting Author