Childhood attention and maltreatment experiences predict decision making performance in early adulthood

• In Event: 3-191 - Risk and Protective Factors Influencing Developmental Trajectories from Childhood Maltreatment to Adverse Adolescent Outcomes

Integrative Statement

Childhood maltreatment is a risk factor for maladaptation in many domains of functioning. Maltreatment has the potential to negatively influence cognitive development and increase risk for poor decision-making abilities in adolescence and adulthood. Studies have linked maltreatment experiences to worse performance on cognitive flexibility tasks and slower verbal processing speed in adolescence (Mothes et al., 2015) and adulthood risk-taking behaviors, such as gambling (Hodgins et al., 2010), risky sexual behaviors (Oshri et al., 2014), and violent crime offending (Topitzes et al., 2012). This investigation aims to identify longitudinal associations between childhood maltreatment, attention problems in middle childhood, and early adulthood decision making.

This study included 376 participants assessed at two waves. At the first wave, (10-12yo; Mean age=11.3yrs; 50.9% Female) parents and their children were recruited by a liaison from the Department of Human Services. Eligible families had documented maltreatment or no involvement with Child Protective Services (CPS). Children’s lifetime maltreatment experiences were coded from CPS records using the Maltreatment Classification System (Barnett, Manly & Cicchetti, 1993). Indicators of child attention were assessed by camp counselor ratings on the Teacher Report Form (CBCL TRF; 1-Attention problems subscale; Achenbach, 1991;) and the California Child Q-Sort (2-ADHD CCQ; Block & Block, 1980), and children completed two performance-based attention tasks: a delayed matching to sample (3-DMS) task and the child Attention Network Task (4-ANT; Rueda et al., 2003). Child IQ was assessed with the WISC.

At wave 2 (Mean age=18.67; range 18-24), Participants completed the CANTAB Cambridge Gambling Task (CGT). Each trial presented 10 colored squares with different ratios of red to blue squares (9:1 – 5:5). On each trial, participants bet points on whether a yellow token was hidden under red or blue squares. Performance was measured with a summary risk adjustment score, which was based on the value of the bet participants placed and probability of losing the bet on that trial. Lower risk adjustment scores indicated that participants were not adjusting their bets based on probability of losing, and higher risk adjustment scores indicated an increased sensitivity to the probability of losing or winning.

A SEM was specified as shown in Figure 1. Results indicated that child maltreatment predicted greater attention problems in middle childhood (beta=.29, SE=.09, p=.002) beyond the effect of IQ (beta=-.61, SE=.069, p<.001). Greater attention problems in childhood predicted worse risk adjustment on the CGT in early adulthood (beta=-.35, SE=.073, p<.001). The indirect effect of child maltreatment on CGT performance through child attention was significant (95% CI LL= -.16, UL= -.016). Also, males demonstrated more sensitive risk adjustment than females (beta=.12, SE=.05, p=.019).

The longitudinal model supports pathways from maltreatment to increased attentional problems in childhood which, in turn, pose a vulnerability for subsequent diminished capacities to attend to and/or use information about the probability of different outcomes associated with making choices. This mediational pathway extends understanding of processes underlying extreme risk-taking behaviors often observed in studies of maltreated emerging adults, such as substance use, violent offending, or risky sexual behaviors.

Authors

• Jennifer M. Warmingham, Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester
  Presenting Author

• Elizabeth D. Handley, Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester
  Non-Presenting Author

• Justin Russotti, Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester
  Non-Presenting Author

• Fred Rogosch, University of Rochester
  Non-Presenting Author

• Dante Cicchetti, University of Minnesota
  Non-Presenting Author