Latent Classes of Adverse and Benevolent Childhood Experiences in a Multinational Sample of Parents and Their Relation to Parent, Child, and Family Functioning during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are known to contribute to later mental health. Conversely, Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) may buffer against mental health difficulties. The importance of ACEs and BCEs for mental health of both parents and children may be most obvious during periods of stress, with potential consequences for functioning of the family. Subgroups of ACEs and BCEs in parents during the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated and validated in relation to indices of parent, child, and family well-being. In May 2020, ACEs/BCEs were assessed in 547 parents of 5–18-year-old children from the U.K., U.S., Canada, and Australia. Subgroups of parents with varying levels of ACEs and BCEs were identified via latent class analysis. The subgroups were validated by examining associations between class membership and indices of parent and child mental health and family well-being. Four latent classes were identified: low-ACEs/high-BCEs, moderate-ACEs/high-BCEs, moderate-ACEs/low-BCEs, and high-ACEs/moderate-BCEs. Regardless of the extent of BCEs, there was an increased risk of parent and child mental health difficulties and family dysfunction among those reporting moderate-to-high levels of ACEs. Parents’ history of adversity may influence the mental health of their family. These findings highlight the importance of public health interventions for preventing early-life adversity.

Experiencias adversas y protectoras durante el desarrollo temprano: Un modelo transaccional de mecanismos psicobiológicos

“…En coherencia, las intervenciones contemporáneas con evidencia en trauma, se apoyan en tres marcos de referencia que mejoran la práctica clínica: un mejor y más amplio conocimiento en las bases psicobiológicas del estrés traumático y del neurodesarrollo, las aplicaciones modernas de la teoría del apego y de la teoría general del estrés y un enfoque en los principios que guían el abordaje informado en trauma considerando una perspectiva ecológica (Purvis et al, 2015;Arvidson, et al, 2011;Kozlowska et al, 2015). Es de esta forma, el presente artículo podría ser un avance inicial para futuras integraciones entre ACEsPACEs, mecanismos psicobiológicos del trauma y salud, de manera que, en adición de las aproximaciones clínicas psicológicas, se profundice la investigación y programas generales de salud para la comprensión de la interrelación entre procesos psicobiológicos, entendidos tanto como bases subyacente como de factores de medición y comprensión del cambio terapéutico, y estrategias relacionadas con la reducción de adversidad hacia los niños, como programas con padres en atención primaria y secundaria, estar en un programa de capacitación familiar, tener seguimientos periódicos de apoyo y aprender sobre desarrollo infantil (Johnson et al, 2022;Rowell, et al, 2022). Estas oportunidades heurísticas de investigación también pueden profundizarse al evaluar de manera más directa el alcance de los hallazgos descritos y la eficacia de las intervenciones en procesos psicobiológicos del trauma por medio de metodologías de revisión como las revisiones sistemáticas o metaanálisis.…”

“…Principalmente, que la presencia de PCEs protege contra las dificultades de salud mental a adultos jóvenes, independiente de la presencia de ACEs, y que tanto ACEs como PCEs muestran asociaciones con salud mental (Doom et al, 2021). Al analizar el bienestar y salud mental en familias y niños, la presencia de ACEs en niveles moderados y altos, independientemente del nivel de PCEs, señalan un mayor riesgo de dificultades y problemas de salud mental, así como disfunción familiar e invita a fortalecer la prevención (Johnson et al, 2022). Las técnicas de disciplina y la disponibilidad emocional de los padres con historial de adversidad comprometen la salud mental de los niños relacionada con sintomatología internalizante y externalizante, identificando como posibles mediadores los síntomas depresivos o de ansiedad maternos, así como la disponibilidad y las experiencias de apego o de maltrato hacia los niños (Rowell, et al, 2022).…”

A systematic review of positive childhood experiences and adult outcomes: Promotive and protective processes for resilience in the context of childhood adversity

“…Across most studies, groups with high levels of PCEs reported better outcomes than groups with low levels of PCEs, even when they also experienced high levels of childhood adversity (Hou et al, 2022;Narayan et al, 2018, in press;Abbott, 2021;Almeida et al, 2021). In contrast, Johnson et al (2022) found that groups with moderate-to-high levels of childhood adversity reported increased risk of parent, child, and family dysfunction during the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of their PCEs levels.…”

“…Almost all study samples were restricted to individuals 18 years and older except two studies that included pregnant individuals as young as 14 to 16 years (Chung et al, 2008;Anderson, 2021) and another study that included college or university students as young as 17 years (Hou et al, 2022). Three studies also examined parent-reported outcomes of children in the next generation (Reese et al, 2022;Johnson et al, 2022;Zhu et al, 2023).…”

“…These findings illustrate that PCEs and childhood adversity do not exist in linear association with one another, and many individuals have distinct combinations of both that uniquely relate to adult outcomes. In sum, PCEs may remain beneficial for those who have experienced childhood adversity and may even begin to offset the negative effects of adversity on development, but there may also be risks that are not completely offset by PCEs (e.g., Johnson et al, 2022). More research should use personoriented methods to examine the unique interplay between PCEs and childhood adversity.…”