Patterns of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Social Problem-Solving, and Mental Health Among Latina Immigrants

Abstract

Researchers have established the long-term negative impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on mental health. Evidence also shows that different types of ACEs often co-occur and that ACEs profiles have differential impact on mental health. However, this prior research has often omitted first-generation Latino immigrants—a growing segment of the population, with potentially higher risk for ACEs, decreased access to mental health services, and increased risk for remaining in poor mental health. In this study, we conducted a cluster analysis using a sample of 336 Latina immigrant to examine: (1) patterns of ACEs, and (2) the mediating role of social problem-solving in the association between ACEs and mental health (depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms [PTSD]) and life satisfaction. We identified 5 clusters: (a) Global ACEs ( n = 52, 15.5%), (b) Community Violence and Physical Abuse ( n = 80, 23.8%), (c) Physical and Emotional Abuse ( n = 72, 21.4%), (d) Household Dysfunction with Physical and Emotional Abuse ( n = 56, 16.7%), and (e) Low ACEs ( n = 76, 22.6%). The clusters differed by social problem-solving, chronic life burden, mental health, and life satisfaction. Compared to the Low Abuse cluster, the Community Violence and Physical Abuse, and Global ACEs clusters were significantly more likely to have higher depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. Social problem-solving was independently associated with all mental health variables and life satisfaction, and mediated the association between ACEs and depression and anxiety for those in the Community Violence and Physical Abuse cluster . Our study sheds light on how ACEs are experienced by Latina immigrants. Social problem-solving also emerged as a significant determinant of mental health and life satisfaction, and may be a point of intervention for improving mental health in this population.

Cuidándome: A trauma-informed and cultural adaptation of a chronic disease self-management program for Latina immigrant survivors with a history of adverse childhood experiences and depression or anxiety symptoms.

“…Findings from cross-sectional studies with our target population indicated the significance of mastery of stress and social problem solving in the association between ACEs and mental health symptoms (Alvarez et al, 2019(Alvarez et al, , 2022. These findings informed our This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.…”

“…Participants were recruited from a database of Latina immigrants who participated in another project (Alvarez et al, 2022) in anticipation of this adaptation study. Women were on average 32 years old, and most were unemployed and had less than a high school education.…”

“…We conducted a literature search about trauma-informed depression and/or anxiety psychotherapies for Latino immigrants and drew on findings from a cross-sectional study examining the role of social problem solving in the association between history of ACEs and depression and anxiety symptoms (Alvarez et al, 2022).…”

Research and Diagnostic Algorithmic Rules (RADAR) for mood disorders, recurrence of illness, suicidal behaviors, and the patient’s lifetime trajectory

“…ACEs, particularly those accumulated during childhood, have been found to increase the risk of developing bipolar disorder and more severe phenotypes of depression later in life (Aas et al, 2016; Alvarez et al, 2022; Etain et al, 2010; Maes et al, 2021a; 2022b). Previous research has linked ACEs to recurrence of episodes (Agnew-Blais and Danese, 2016; Maes et al, 2022b), increased severity of illness, and more suicidal conduct as well as concomitant anxiety (review: Maes et al, 2021a).…”

The co-occurrence of adverse childhood experiences and mental health among Latina/o adults: A latent class analysis approach

“…To our knowledge, only one study to date has attempted to identify co-occurring ACE exposures among Latina/os. Using a clinical sample of Latinas, Alvarez et al (2022) identified five ACE categories: (1) global ACEs cluster, (2) collective and community violence, (3) high physical and emotional abuse, (4) household dysfunction with physical and emotional abuse, and (5) low ACEs. The authors also found, when compared to respondents with low ACEs, Latinas exposed to community violence, physical abuse, and a multitude of ACEs were at a greater risk of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms.…”