This article presents a method of conducting a scoping review that synthesizes recommendations from previous literature while contributing additional customizations to enhance a team-based, mixed method approach. A form of knowledge synthesis, scoping reviews aim to describe the breadth of an existent knowledge base and inform future research, practice, and policy. Scoping review methodology has continued to evolve since the inception of the Arksey and O’Malley Framework in 2005. After examining recommendations from the body of literature on scoping review methodology and scoping reviews about scoping reviews, we found that teamwork and mixed method approaches were rarely addressed. Following the Arksey and O’Malley Framework, we discuss current recommendations within the literature, rationale for our customizations to enhance the method, and present an application of these customizations as illustrated in our companion article, “Outcomes and outputs affiliated with children’s advocacy centers in the United States: A scoping review.”In sum, our enhancements to the Arksey and O’Malley Framework: Explicitly integrate qualitative and quantitative assessment of the literature following best practices in mixed methods research, and, Integrate a team-based approach throughout all stages of the scoping review process.

Purpose There is a growing interest in the co-occurring natures of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and unmeasured types of adversity. The current body of knowledge may also lack plausible mechanisms linking ACEs to mental health in young adulthood. This study aims to identify early adversity patterns using expanded ACEs items and investigate the pathway of ACEs and self-esteem to depressive symptoms in young adulthood. Methods Data were obtained from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health, including a nationally representative sample in the U.S. ( N = 10,702). We identified the ACEs patterns and estimated the direct and indirect associations between ACEs and depressive symptoms through self-esteem, using a latent class analysis with a distal outcome. Results This study identified four distinct groups of ACEs that include Child Maltreatment , Household Dysfunction , Violence , and Low Adversity . The Child Maltreatment class showed a significantly higher risk of depressive symptoms compared to other ACEs groups. Self-esteem mediated the negative association of child maltreatment with depressive symptoms. The Violence class presented a significantly higher risk of depressive symptoms than Low Adversity , but no mediation of self-esteem was found. Conclusion The study highlights the profound consequence of child abuse/neglect and identifies self-esteem as a plausible mediating mechanism. Researchers and practitioners should increase collaboration efforts to prevent early adversity exposures and detrimental effects on mental health.

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This study examines the relationship between patterns of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and suicidal behaviors. It investigates the role of depressive symptoms as an underlying mechanism between patterns of ACEs and suicidal behaviors in South Korea. Data came from the 2012 Korean General Social Survey (KGSS), a nationally representative sample in South Korea ( N = 1,048). The dependent variables included two suicidal behaviors: suicidal thoughts and a suicide plan or attempt. The independent variable was the patterns of ACEs identified using ten binary indicators of childhood adversity. The mediating variable of depressive symptoms was measured using the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Covariates were also included to control for socio-demographic characteristics: age, gender, education, and household income. This study conducted a latent class analysis (LCA) to classify different patterns of ACEs and then employed path analysis to examine mediating effects of depressive symptoms in the relationship between ACEs and suicidal behavior. Among the results, three latent classes of ACEs were identified— child maltreatment, child maltreatment and family dysfunction, and low ACEs. The child maltreatment and child maltreatment and family dysfunction classes were more likely to have suicidal thoughts and to plan or attempt suicide compared to the low ACEs class. Path analysis also showed significant indirect pathways from ACEs exposure to suicidal behaviors through depressive symptoms. This evidence corroborates previous research that shows family dysfunction and child maltreatment as detrimental factors leading to depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviors. Practitioners and policy-makers should therefore consider childhood life experiences when assessing suicidal behaviors in health prevention and intervention strategies.