Longitudinal Patterns of Child Maltreatment Experiences and Adolescent Substance Use

• In Event: Child Maltreatment, Child Welfare Involvement and Predictors of Youth Risk and Resilience

Abstract

Background: Adolescent substance use is an urgent public health concern that can lead to subsequent development of substance use disorders over the life course. Child maltreatment is a widely recognized risk factor for adolescent substance use. Despite the well-established link between child maltreatment and adolescent substance use, it remains unclear if and how distinct longitudinal patterns of maltreatment experiences are associated with substance use in adolescence. Prior work in this area has often failed to account for the complex nature of maltreatment, such as the type (e.g., physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect) and chronicity of maltreatment. To address these critical research gaps, the current study sought to examine how distinct patterns of longitudinal maltreatment experiences are associated with adolescent substance use.

Method: The sample consisted of 899 adolescents from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN). Of the 899 adolescents, 48% were male, 26% were White, 53% Black, 7% Hispanic, and 14% other races. Participants reported the frequency of substance use (tobacco, alcohol, marijuana) in the past 30 days. Child maltreatment, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect, was measured using child protective services records (birth to age 17). For each maltreatment type (i.e., physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect), we created four binary variables (0 = no, 1 = yes) that correspond to Erikson’s four stages of development: infancy/toddlerhood (ages 0-2); early childhood (ages 3-5); school age (ages 6-12); adolescence (ages 13-17). We conducted Repeated measures latent class analysis (RMLCA) using Mplus v.8.0.

Results: For physical abuse, we identified three classes: Class 1: Stable low physical abuse (75.9%); Class 2: High physical abuse at school age (6.2%); Class3: High physical abuse in infancy/toddlerhood but decreasing over time (17.9%). For sexual abuse, we identified two classes: Class 1: Stable no/low sexual abuse (96.1%); Class 2: High sexual abuse at school age (3.9%). For neglect, we found three classes: Class 1: Consistent high neglect (11.2%); Class 2: Neglect in infancy/toddlerhood but decreasing over time (71.0%); Class 3: Neglect at school age (17.8%). Adolescents in the high physical abuse at school age class showed greater alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use, compared to those in the other classes. Similarly, adolescents in the high sexual abuse at school age class showed greater substance use than those in the stable no/low sexual abuse class. Lastly, adolescents in the neglect in infancy/toddlerhood but decreasing over time class showed significantly less substance use than those in the other two classes.

Conclusion: Exposure to maltreatment at school age appears to be a salient risk factor for increased substance use in adolescence, pointing to the need for additional support and services for youth who have experienced maltreatment during the school age period. On a promising note, our findings suggest that even adolescents who experienced physical abuse or neglect in infancy/early childhood can build resilience against substance use and achieve positive behavioral health outcomes, when they are protected from further victimization at later developmental stages. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of early intervention and ongoing maltreatment prevention.

Authors

• Susan Yoon, Ohio State University

• Junyeong Yang, The Ohio State University
  Presenting Author

• Julianna Rose Calabrese, Ohio State University