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Objective-Animal studies report that age at stimulant exposure is positively related to later drug sensitivity. This study was designed to examine whether age at initiation of stimulant treatment in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is related to subsequent development of substance use disorder (SUD).Method-Prospective longitudinal study of 176 methylphenidate-treated white boys (6-12 years) with ADHD but without conduct disorder, evaluated at mean ages 18 (94% retention) and 25 (85%), and 178 comparisons diagnosed by blinded clinicians. The Cox proportional hazards model included childhood predictor variables: age at initiation of methylphenidate treatment, total cumulative dose, treatment duration; IQ; severity of hyperactivity; socioeconomic status; also lifetime parent mental disorder. Separate models tested for four lifetime outcomes: Any SUD, Alcohol SUD, Non-Alcohol SUD, and Stimulant SUD. Other outcomes included antisocial personality disorder, mood and anxiety disorders.

This study examined why some preschool-age children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) showed deleterious outcomes and others appeared more resilient. Resilience, conceptualized as strengths in emotion regulation and prosocial skills, was evaluated using the Social Competence Scale developed by the Conduct Problem Prevention Research Group. The sample consisted of 56 mothers and their 4- to 6-year-old children exposed to IPV within the past 2 years. After controlling for relevant demographic factors, hierarchical regression analyses indicated that better parenting performance, fewer maternal mental health problems, and less severe violence exposure predicted better emotion regulation and prosocial skill scores, which in turn were negatively correlated with maladaptive child behaviors. These findings can be used to inform and enhance clinical services for children exposed to IPV.

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Objective Research on adversity is often skewed toward assessing problematic functioning; yet many women display resilience following traumatic experiences. Examining individual, relational, community, and cultural variables can provide new knowledge about protective factors associated with resilience in women exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV). Controlling for demographics and circumstances of the violence, this study evaluated predictors of resilience, including spirituality, social support, community cohesion, and ethnic identity. Method The sample consisted of 112 women (Mage=32.12, SD=5.78) exposed to physical, psychological, and/or sexual intimate partner violence in the past 6 months. Approximately 70% of participants were Black. Hierarchical linear regression modeling was conducted to examine factors related to resilience. Model 1 included demographics (age, education, and socioeconomic status) and stressful life experiences. Model 2 added circumstances of the violence: IPV severity, IPV perpetration by participant, and number of violent partners. The third and final model added spirituality, social support, community cohesion, and ethnic identity. Results The final model was significant, F(11, 97)=6.63; p<.001, adj. R2=36.5%; with greater social support (β=.24; p=.009), more spirituality (β=.28; p=.002), and fewer violent relationships (β= −.25; p=.003) predicting higher resilience among women exposed to IPV. Conclusion While risk factors associated with IPV are well-researched, little is known about factors related to resilient functioning, especially among minority populations. Knowledge gained from this study can advance the field of violence research by its identification of potentially mutable variables related to resilience. Such research could be applied to developing strength-based interventions for at-risk populations of violence-exposed women.

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Children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) are at high risk for adjustment problems, especially internalizing disorders. Few evidence-based interventions are available to address internalizing behavior problems in this population. An efficacy trial compared outcomes for 4-6 year old children randomly assigned to a program designed to address the effects of exposure to IPV with those allocated to a waitlist comparison condition. Mothers (N = 120) and children from the United States and Canada were assessed at baseline, 5 weeks later (post-intervention) and at 8-month follow-up. The evaluation compared rates of change over time for child internalizing problems. Results were analyzed using both intent-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) approaches. ITT analyses indicated the program reduced internalizing problems for girls at follow-up. PP analyses indicated the program reduced internalizing problems for both boys and girls at post-intervention. In this study, child internalizing problems were significantly reduced through an intervention for the mother and the child.

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