Exploring gender differences in complex developmental trauma symptomatology among children and adolescents involved in child welfare

Abstract

Background: Clinical presentations of child and adolescent psychopathology can vary systematically for boys and girls. While network analysis is increasingly being applied to explore gender differences in psychopathology among adults, there is a dearth of network studies considering differences in symptoms for boys and girls, particularly in developmental trauma-related symptomatology. Methods: This study involves rural children (n = 375, 39.47% girls) and adolescents (n = 291, 51.20% girls) involved with child protection services in Ontario, Canada. Caregivers completed the Assessment Checklist for Children or Adolescents within the first six months of care. Psychometric network analyses were conducted using subscales for boys and girls. Gender differences were examined via network comparison permutation tests, moderated network models, and independent t-tests.Results: Attachment-related interpersonal difficulties were the most central nodes in the child and adolescent networks for both boys and girls. Emotional dysregulation also had high strength centrality for adolescents. While network comparison tests found the overall network structures and global network strength to be invariant between genders for children and adolescents, moderated network models and independent t-tests revealed several gender differences with regards to the expression of various symptoms. Among children, girls exhibited more indiscriminate and pseudomature interpersonal behaviors, whereas boys expressed significantly more non-reciprocal interpersonal behaviors and self-injury. Adolescent girls exhibited more behavioral dysregulation and suicide discourse in the moderated network model; t-tests also indicated higher levels of emotional dysregulation, negative self-image, and other items.Discussion: This study supports evidence of gender differences in the expression of complex trauma symptomatology among girls and boys across development, including that girls tend to exhibit more symptoms. Findings demonstrate the primacy of attachment-specific difficulties and emotion dysregulation, consistent with the transdiagnostic conceptualization of the consequences of developmental trauma.

Stress Across the Lifespan in Canada: From Risk to Management. Conference Report

“…Discussing the important role of early childhood adversity on mental health and wellbeing was extended to the Stress and Clinical Outcomes symposium [31]. However, from a clinical perspective, the importance of taking a cumulative lifespan approach, beyond childhood adversity, was highlighted when evaluating mental health outcomes [32].…”