Poster #66 - Trust and communication with parents partially buffers urban adolescents from the behavioral effects of trauma exposure

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

Integrative Statement

Youth in America are currently being exposed to trauma at alarming rates, one study found that 69.7% of the 3,614 youths surveyed experienced at least some types of trauma in their lifetime (Lopez et al., 2017). This exposure can lead to negative outcomes including depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and aggression (Gorman-Smith & Tolan, 1998; Rosenthal, 2000; Schwartz, et. al, 2005). However, past research suggests that relationship quality, particularly relationships with parents, can be a protective factor against negative outcomes (Raja, McGee, & Stanton, 1991). Furthermore, in work specifically with youth exposed to trauma, trust with primary caregivers has been found to be an important indicator of how a youth adjusts after trauma exposure (Cook et al., 2005). As a result, relationship quality, trust in particular, was examined further as a possible protective factor of the relation between exposure to stressful life events and behavior problems.

The current study examined whether relationship quality with parents, operationalized by trust and communication, significantly moderated the relation between the number of stressful life events and total behavioral problems in teens. Sample was 73 predominantly, low income, urban, African American youth (age M = 15.13; SD = 1.42) and their primary caregivers recruited from an integrated care clinic in a large Midwestern city. Teens and their caregivers were interviewed regarding stressful event exposure, relationship quality (trust and communication), and behavioral health. It was hypothesized that (1) exposure to stressful life events would predict higher levels of behavior problems and (2) teens’ reported relationship quality with their primary caregiver would moderate the relation between exposure to stressful life events and behavior problems.

Results supported both hypotheses. Regression analyses were significant (F(1,72) = 15.26, R2 = .18, p < .001) and indicated that exposure to trauma accounted for 17.5% of the variation in behavior problems. Direct effects for stressful life events and reported relationship quality were both found to be significant (t(69) = 2.73, p < .01 and t(69) = 3.12, p < .1, respectively). Analyses were used to examine relationship quality as a moderator of that association (Hayes, 2013). Results showed that the overall model was significant (F(3,69) = 8.72, R2 = .27, p < .001), such that relationship quality with parents did significantly moderate the relation between teens’ stressful life events and behavior problems (see Figure 1). Relationship quality appeared to be especially protective towards behavior problems when stress is low. Further, relationship quality was associated with lower stress exposure (r(73) = .23). These results highlighted the importance of fostering quality relationships between teens and their parents, particularly in terms of building trust and enhancing communication, in the context of a stressful, urban environment.

Authors

• Bridget Murphy, Wayne State University
  Presenting Author

• Yi Tak Tsang, Wayne State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Kelsey J Sala-Hamrick, Wayne State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Marilyn Franklin, Wayne State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Douglas Barnett, Wayne State University
  Non-Presenting Author