Profiles of Resilience among Children Exposed to Non-Maltreatment Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Susan Yoon,Natasha Slesnick,Nathan Helsabeck,Xiafei Wang,Sherry Hamby,Fei Pei,Jessica Logan

doi:10.3390/ijerph182010600

Abstract

Considering the high prevalence and negative consequences of non-maltreatment adverse childhood experiences (NM-ACEs), it is critical to understand their impacts on the resilient functioning of young children. This study sought to examine heterogeneity in resilience among first-grade children who were exposed to NM-ACEs during kindergarten and explore demographic and adversity characteristics that distinguish between resilience profiles. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted on 4929 children drawn from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Kindergarten (ECLS-K). The results of the LPA revealed four distinct resilience profiles: (1) low cognitive and executive functioning (4%); (2) low social and behavioral functioning (14%); (3) low average functioning (31%); and (4) multi-domain resilience (51%). Female children and those in families characterized by older maternal age, higher parental education level, household income above 200% federal poverty level, not receiving welfare benefits, and races other than Black were more likely to be in the multi-domain resilience profile. The findings highlight heterogeneity in resilience among children exposed to NM-ACEs and point to the need for a comprehensive, multi-domain assessment of child functioning to support optimal resilience development in this population.

Highlights

Despite its potential importance, the impact of non-maltreatment adverse childhood experiences (NM-Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)) on child development and resilience has received disproportionately less attention compared to that of child maltreatment
Applying a person-centered analytic approach, the current study contributes to the literature on early childhood development by highlighting children’s resilient development in the context of non-maltreatment adverse childhood experiences (NM-ACEs), including poverty and parental psychopathology
We found that older maternal age, child’s female gender, and races other than Black were associated with a higher likelihood of having the multi-domain resilience profile, compared to the other profiles of resilience

Summary

Introduction

The impact of non-maltreatment adverse childhood experiences (NM-ACEs) on child development and resilience has received disproportionately less attention compared to that of child maltreatment. The impact of NM-ACEs on childhood outcomes, positive and resilient functioning, remains unclear. Resilience is defined as the process of positive adaptation in the midst of adversity [1,2]. Understanding different profiles of resilience among children exposed to NM-ACEs can inform intervention strategies to support vulnerable children and help them achieve positive outcomes. Applying a person-centered analytic approach (i.e., latent profile analysis), the current study contributes to the literature on early childhood development by highlighting children’s resilient development in the context of NM-ACEs, including poverty and parental psychopathology

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Discussion

Conclusion