Effects Of Childhood Adversity Research Articles

The association between recent stressful life events and brain structure: a UK Biobank longitudinal MRI study.

Recent stressful life events (SLEs) are an established risk factor for a range of psychiatric disorders. Animal studies have shown evidence of gray matter (GM) reductions associated with stress, and previous work has found similar associations in humans. However longitudinal studies investigating the association between stress and changes in brain structure are limited. The current study uses longitudinal data from the UK Biobank and comprises 4,543 participants with structural neuroimaging and recent SLE data (mean age=61.5years). We analyzed the association between recent SLEs and changes in brain structure, determined using the longitudinal FreeSurfer pipeline, focusing on total GM volume and five a priori brain regions: the hippocampus, amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and insula. We also examined if depression and childhood adversity moderated the relationship between SLEs and brain structure. Individuals who had experienced recent SLEs exhibited a slower rate of hippocampal decrease over time compared to individuals who did not report any SLEs. Individuals with depression exhibited smaller GM volumes when exposed to recent SLEs. There was no effect of childhood adversity on the relationship between SLEs and brain structure. Our findings suggest recent SLEs are not directly associated with an accelerated decline in brain volumes in a population sample of older adults, but instead may alter brain structure via affective disorder psychopathology. Further work is needed to investigate the effects of stress in younger populations who may be more vulnerable to stress-induced changes, and may yet pinpoint brain regions linked to stress-related disorders.

Effect of Childhood Adversity on the Relationship Between Family Resilience and Behavioral or Conduct Problems in Children With Special Healthcare Needs.

Behavioral or conduct problems (BCPs) are common co-occurring conditions in children with special health care needs (CSHCNs), affecting their developmental and functional milestones. The role of family resilience in mitigating BCPs among these children and how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect this dynamic remain largely unclear. The aim of the study was to disentangle the complex interplay between family resilience, ACEs, and BCPs by examining how ACEs moderate the relationship between family resilience and BCPs. The study included 19,922 CSHCNs aged 3 to 17 years from the 2020-2021 National Survey of Children's Health. Weighted analysis was conducted using the Rao-Scott χ2 test and multivariable logistic regression to account for the complex survey design. Children from families with no and low resilience as compared with high-resilient families had 1.78 times (odds ratio [OR]: 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-2.43) and 1.44 times (OR: 1.44, 95% CI, 1.18-1.76) higher odds of BCPs, respectively. While the odds of BCPs decreased in nonresilient families as ACEs increased from none to 1 ACE, 2 or more ACEs versus no ACE increased the odds of BCPs in low-resilient families from 1.42 times (OR: 1.42, 95% CI, 1.03-1.94) to 1.51 times (OR: 1.51, 95% CI, 1.13-2.02). The findings suggest that family resilience is associated with a lower likelihood of BCPs in CSHCNs. ACEs have varying effects on the relationship between family resilience and BCPs across different levels of family resilience. These results highlight the importance of strengthening family resilience and addressing ACEs in interventions to reduce behavioral issues in CSHCNs.

Effects of childhood adversities on alexithymia features vary between sexes. Results of a prospective population study

ABSTRACT Introduction: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) associate with various mental disorders, including personality features. Our understanding of how ACEs influence alexithymia features in the general population is limited. In a prospective population setting, we studied whether ACEs associate with alexithymia, and the role of sex and emotional symptoms in this association. Methods: In a Finnish population-based prospective study, 3,142 individuals aged between 30 and 64 years completed eleven ACE questions and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale in 2000 and 2011, and the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist in 2011. The effect of ACEs on alexithymia and its subdomains – difficulty identifying feelings (DIF), difficulty describing feelings (DDF), and externally oriented thinking (EOT) in 2000 and 2011 – was analysed using repeated measures ANOVA. Results: The number of ACEs and their main component, childhood social disadvantage, associated positively with total alexithymia scores and its subdomains DIF and DDF, and negatively with EOT. After controlling for the effect of depression and anxiety, the strength of these associations was reduced, but the effect of social disadvantage on DIF and EOT remained significant in females. Childhood family conflicts associated positively with DIF in males and negatively with EOT in females. Additionally, maternal mental problems associated positively with DIF and DDF in females. Discussion: In the general population, ACEs, particularly social disadvantage, are associated with adult alexithymia features. Alexithymia features, detectable from youth, may predispose individuals to emotional disturbances caused by childhood adversities. The effect of family conflicts and maternal mental problems on alexithymia features varies between sexes.

Childhood adversity, perceived social support, and depressive symptoms among pre-abortion Chinese women

BackgroundUnintended (unwanted) pregnancy is a sexual and reproductive health issue with psychosocial consequences for the individual, their family, and society. However, the relationship between social support and related mental health issues, like depression and the effects of childhood adversity, is poorly studied. This study aims to explore the connections between childhood adversity, perceived social support, and depressive symptoms in pre-abortion women (women who have decided to have an abortion) in a clinical setting, based on the common risk factor approach and social support theory.MethodsA total of 299 pre-abortion Chinese women 18–45 years were recruited in a hospital in Shantou, China. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were employed to examine the relative effects of childhood adversity and sources of social support on depressive symptoms, controlling for sociodemographic influences.ResultsThe results show that 37.2 percent of participants reported at least one adverse experience in childhood. More than half of the respondents were at risk for depression. Results of regression analysis showed that childhood adversities were negatively associated with depressive symptoms before sources of social support were entered into the model. However, when the sources of perceived social support were added, the effect of childhood adversity was not significant. Perceived social support explained the additional 15 percent variance in depressive symptoms. Additionally, being married (β = -.12, p < .05) and number of siblings (β = .13, p < .05) were significantly related to depressive symptoms.DiscussionPre-abortion women are at risk of mental health problems. Peer and familial social supports can alleviate the influence of childhood adversity on depression among pre-abortion Chinese women. Strengthening the role of various sources of social support can help to improve the mental health conditions of pre-abortion women.

Distress and neuroticism as mediators of the effect of childhood and adulthood adversity on cognitive performance in the UK Biobank study

Childhood adversity and adulthood adversity affect cognition later in life. However, the mechanism through which adversity exerts these effects on cognition remains under-researched. We aimed to investigate if the effect of adversity on cognition was mediated by distress or neuroticism. The UK Biobank is a large, population-based, cohort study designed to investigate risk factors of cognitive health. Here, data were analysed using a cross-sectional design. Structural equation models were fitted to the data with childhood adversity or adulthood adversity as independent variables, distress and neuroticism as mediators and executive function and processing speed as latent dependent variables that were derived from the cognitive scores in the UK Biobank. Complete data were available for 64,051 participants in the childhood adversity model and 63,360 participants in the adulthood adversity model. Childhood adversity did not show a direct effect on processing speed. The effect of childhood adversity on executive function was partially mediated by distress and neuroticism. The effects of adulthood adversity on executive function and processing speed were both partially mediated by distress and neuroticism. In conclusion, distress and neuroticism mediated the deleterious effect of childhood and adulthood adversity on cognition and may provide a mechanism underlying the deleterious consequences of adversity.

GWAS in interaction with childhood traumas implicates novel variants and genes previously associated with suicide-related factors in the background of suicidal ideation

IntroductionAlthough suicide claims more lives than war and homicide, we still have no sufficient and effective methods either for its prediction or for its prevention. Our screening methods are laborous and subjective both on the side of the patient and on the side of the clinician. Understanding the genetic background of suicidal behaviour would help identify biomarkers for screening as well as pathways as potential targets for novel intervention and prevention approaches. However, in spite of a number of GWAS studies, results are few and rarely replicate, and generally accurate phenotyping and sufficient consideration of environmental stressors is also missing.ObjectivesIn our present study we performed a genome-wide analysis study for suicidal ideation in interaction with early childhood traumas in a deep-phenotyped general population sample.MethodsOur analysis used data from 1800 volunteers in the NewMood project. As outcome phenotype the suicidal ideation item of the Brief Symptom Inventory was used. A modified version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was used to assess early adverse experiences. A genome-wide association analysis was performed with Plink 1.9, including a total of 3,474,641 variants after quality control steps, followed by genome-wide by environment interaction analyses. Our models included control variables for sex, age, and the top 10 genomic principal components. Functional annotation of SNPs was carried out using FUMA v1.5.6, gene-based tests were performed using MAGMA v1.08.Results7 SNPs met suggestive significance in main effect analyses, of which 2 reached genome-wide significance including rs79912020 (p=3.21E-10, β=0.746) and rs10236520 (p=1.71E-08, β=0.484), with no significant findings in gene-based tests. Interaction analyses with childhood adversities yielded 31 SNPs that met genome-wide significance, including rs7983955 (p=2.28E-11, β=0.182), rs141039461 (p=3.90E-11, β=0.0541), rs12692827 (p=3.69E-10, β=0.0612) as the top SNPs. In interaction with childhood adversities, 31 genes showed a significant association in gene-based tests, including RBFOX1 (p=1.09E-10), GRM7 (p=1.20E-10), MTCH1 (p=5.59E-09), and CDH13 (p=6.60E-09) as the most significant findings.ConclusionsOur results indicate several important novel SNPs associated with suicidal ideation when considered in interaction with the effect of childhood adversities. Furthermore, gene-based analyses replicate several genes playing a key role in central nervous system function such as GRM7 (encoding metabotropic glutamate receptor 7) or previously implicated in association with suicide (CDH13) or suicide-related factors such as aggression (RBFOX1).Funding: NAP2022-I-4/2022, K143391, 2019-2.1.7-ERA-NET-2020-00005, TKP2021-EGA-25Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Childhood adversity predicts stronger premenstrual mood worsening, stress appraisal and cortisol decrease in women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.

Lifetime traumatic events are prevalent in women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and predict stronger premenstrual symptom intensities. Less is known about the unique effects of childhood adversity on PMDD. This study aims to investigate the menstrual cycle related course of mood, stress appraisal and cortisol activity over time and the effects of childhood adversity - by controlling for recent stressful life events - on the cyclicity of these outcomes. Fifty-two women with PMDD completed questionnaires on childhood adversity and stressful life events during the past 12 months. Momentary negative and positive affect, stress appraisal, and saliva-cortisol were assessed within an Ambulatory Assessment (AA) design over four consecutive days during both the follicular and the late luteal phase. This AA was repeated after five months, resulting in two measurement bursts. Women with PMDD showed expected cycle related variations in mood and stress appraisal, whereby these effects weakened over time. No cortisol cyclicity was identified. Higher childhood adversity was linked to stronger increases in negative affect and stress appraisal, and stronger decreases in positive affect from the follicular toward the late luteal phase. Women with higher childhood adversity exhibited lower cortisol levels during the late luteal phase compared to the follicular phase whereas no such cyclicity was found in women with lower childhood adversity. Childhood adversity appears to show independent deteriorating effects on premenstrual mood worsening and stress appraisal in women with PMDD. The observed cortisol cyclicity in women with higher childhood adversity may point to different neuroendocrine subtypes of PMDD in relation to childhood trauma and requires further systematic research.

The Effects of Childhood Adversity and Self-Regulation on the Well-Being of Adults with Delinquency Histories: A Mediation Model

ABSTRACT Purpose Most youth with delinquency histories experience childhood adversity leaving them vulnerable to poor adult well-being. Previous research indicates that self-regulation difficulties could explain how childhood adversity affects adult well-being. Yet, very few studies target adult self-regulation intervention. Therefore, this study examined the intervening effects of emerging adult self-regulation on the association between childhood adversity and adult well-being. Method Using data from the first four waves of the Add Health Study, the researchers conducted structural equation modeling for mediation with bootstrapping. The researchers tested the mediation effects of emerging adult self-regulation on the association between childhood adversity (child maltreatment and violent victimization) and later adult well-being (mental health problems, alcohol and drug use, criminal behaviors) among people with delinquency histories and/or arrest prior to age 18 (N = 1,792). Results Several significant direct effects and one partial mediation effect were found. For example, child maltreatment significantly predicted adult mental health problems and criminal behaviors. Self-regulation (via the dissatisfaction with life and self subscale) mediated the association between child maltreatment and adult mental health problems. Discussion Findings highlight the need for social workers to focus on prevention services and trauma-informed treatment for people with delinquency histories. In addition, evidence-based practice requires self-regulation interventions for adults with histories of childhood adversity and delinquency to focus on their emotional and cognitive functioning as well as self-esteem. Conclusion Implementing self-regulation interventions during emerging adulthood can be useful to mitigate later adult mental health problems among people with histories of childhood adversity and delinquency.

Childhood adversity and the cortisol awakening response in depression: A meta-analysis

Although cortisol awakening response (CAR) dysregulation is frequently documented among individuals with depression, there is conflicting evidence regarding the direction and degree of dysregulation, which impedes our ability to provide personalized and efficacious treatment. Childhood adversity is posited to explain variability within the CAR-depression literature, but the effect of childhood adversity on the CAR in depression has not yet been quantified. We meta-analyzed 19 studies (n = 2053) examining the association between childhood adversity and the CAR among individuals with depression. Data were pooled using random-effects models for childhood adversity overall, childhood adversity characterized by threat, and childhood adversity characterized by deprivation. Among individuals with depression, greater exposure to childhood adversity was associated with a steeper CAR. Further, in line with hypotheses, among individuals with depression, greater exposure to childhood adversity characterized by threat was associated with a steeper CAR, whereas greater exposure to adversity characterized by deprivation was not. These results support the proposition that greater childhood adversity, and in particular adversity characterized by threat, could lead to a distinct presentation of depression characterized by dysregulated diurnal HPA axis activity, as evidenced by a steeper CAR. These findings suggest specificity in the associations between types of childhood adversity and the CAR and could inform growing efforts towards personalized medicine in the treatment of depression.

The effect of childhood adversity on mental health in young adults: a longitudinal study

Childhood adversity has been consistently linked to negative outcomes in children’s mental health. Nonetheless, little is known about the lifelong effects of these experiences during a stage of development with high rates of both internalising and externalising problems: emerging adulthood. Therefore, the present study analyses the relation between self-reported exposure to a wide range of adversities in a community sample of young adults and externalising (deviant behaviour) and internalising (stress, anxiety and depression) outcomes. In this two-time prospective study, 490 young adults (62.4% females) with ages ranging from 18 to 20 years (M = 18.90) were interviewed in person first and then over an online questionnaire one year later (N = 84). Linear regressions were performed for each mental health outcome controlling for demographic variables. Physical abuse emerged as the best predictor of deviant behaviour in both time periods in a univocal relation, whereas internalising outcomes seemed to have a broader multifactorial association with distinct types of adversities only in Time 1. These findings, along with the results of the stability externalising consequences derived from physical abuse, emphasise the importance of prevention and intervention strategies to diminish the transmission of these maladaptive strategies in later periods of life.

Effect of Childhood Adversity and Positive Psychological Resources on Stress Response-Comparison Between Depressed and Nondepressed Young Adults.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between stress response, childhood adversity, and positive psychological resources in young adults, to investigate the mediation effect of positive psychological resources, and to compare the moderated mediation effects between depressed and non-depressed groups. A total of 360 young adults (165 outpatients diagnosed with depression and 195 non-depressed participants) were recruited. Data were collected using the Adverse Childhood Events questionnaire, Positive Resources Test, and Stress Response Inventory. Models 4 and 14 of the PROCESS macro were used to test the mediating and moderated mediating effects. In both groups, the stress response was negatively correlated with positive psychological resources and positively correlated with childhood adversity. Positive psychological resources mediated childhood adversity and depression. In the depression group, positive resources had a moderated mediation effect on the relationship between childhood adversity, positive psychological resources, and stress response. The findings suggest the importance of enhancing positive psychological resources, especially in patient groups, to help overcome childhood adversity and cope with stress more effectively.

Subjective and objective experiences of childhood adversity: a meta-analysis of their agreement and relationships with psychopathology.

Researchers use both subjective self-report and objective measures, such as official records, to investigate the impact of childhood adversity on psychopathology. However, it is unclear whether subjective and objective measures of childhood adversity (a) show agreement, and (b) differentially predict psychopathology. To address this, we conducted a pre-registered meta-analysis to examine the agreement between subjective and objective measures of childhood adversity, and their prediction of psychopathology. We searched in PubMed, PsycINFO and Embase for articles with both subjective measures (self-reports) and objective measures of childhood adversity (comprising official records, or reports from multiple informants unrelated to the target individual), and measures of psychopathology. We identified 22 studies (n = 18,163) with data on agreement between subjective and objective measures of childhood adversities, and 17 studies (n = 14,789) with data on the associations between subjective and objective measures with psychopathology. First, we found that subjective and objective measures of childhood adversities were only moderately correlated (e.g. for maltreatment, r = .32, 95% CI = 0.23-0.41). Second, subjective measures of childhood adversities were associated with psychopathology, independent of objective measures (e.g. for maltreatment, r = .16, 95% CI = 0.09-0.22). In contrast, objective measures of childhood adversities had null or minimal associations with psychopathology, independent of subjective measures (e.g. r for maltreatment = .06, 95% CI = -0.02-0.13). Our findings suggest that the effects of childhood adversity on psychopathology are primarily driven by a person's subjective experience. If this is the case, clinical interventions targeting memories and cognitive processes surrounding childhood adversity may reduce the risk of psychopathology in exposed individuals.

445. Effects of Childhood Adversity on the Relationship Among Resting State Network Dynamics, Cortisol and Subjective Status After an Acute Psychosocial Stressor

445. Effects of Childhood Adversity on the Relationship Among Resting State Network Dynamics, Cortisol and Subjective Status After an Acute Psychosocial Stressor

Childhood Adversity Moderates Change in Latent Patterns of Psychological Adjustment during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Survey of U.S. Adults

Emerging evidence suggests that the consequences of childhood adversity impact later psychopathology by increasing individuals’ risk of experiencing difficulties in adjusting to stressful situations later in life. The goals of this study were to: (a) identify sociodemographic factors associated with subgroups of psychological adjustment prior to and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and (b) examine whether and to what extent types of childhood adversity predict transition probabilities. Participants were recruited via multiple social media platforms and listservs. Data were collected via an internet-based survey. Our analyses reflect 1942 adults (M = 39.68 years); 39.8% reported experiencing at least one form of childhood adversity. Latent profile analyses (LPAs) and latent transition analyses (LTAs) were conducted to determine patterns of psychological adjustment and the effects of childhood adversity on transition probabilities over time. We identified five subgroups of psychological adjustment characterized by symptom severity level. Participants who were younger in age and those who endorsed marginalized identities exhibited poorer psychological adjustment during the pandemic. Childhood exposure to family and community violence and having basic needs met as a child (e.g., food, shelter) significantly moderated the relation between latent profile membership over time. Clinical and research implications are discussed.

Childhood adversities: Mixed blessings for entrepreneurial entry

The developmental psychology literature has linked childhood adversities to detrimental development outcomes that can undermine labor market participation and performance. In contrast, emerging entrepreneurship studies raise the possibility that childhood adversities may positively affect entrepreneurial action with some diverging findings. We reconcile these opposing theoretical perspectives in their effects on entrepreneurial entry by theorizing that childhood adversities are a mixed blessing for entrepreneurship and affect entry through two countervailing theoretical mechanisms. Childhood adversities increase the likelihood of entrepreneurial entry by promoting rule-breaking tendency and simultaneously decrease the likelihood of entry by negatively impacting individual ability (self-efficacy and educational attainment). We further theorized that childhood adversities have different implications for different types of entrepreneurial entry (incorporated and unincorporated) and for men versus women. We tested our hypotheses on a longitudinal sample of 4222 individuals from the NLSY79 child and young adult cohort data, which tracks the development of children born to a representative sample of U.S. young women from childhood through youth to adulthood. Our study offers new insight into the effects of childhood adversities on entrepreneurship, including gender-specific manifestations and outcomes of childhood adversities.

Structural brain correlates of childhood trauma with replication across two large, independent community-based samples.

Childhood trauma and adversity are common across societies and have strong associations with physical and psychiatric morbidity throughout the life-course. One possible mechanism through which childhood trauma may predispose individuals to poor psychiatric outcomes is via associations with brain structure. This study aimed to elucidate the associations between childhood trauma and brain structure across two large, independent community cohorts. The two samples comprised (i) a subsample of Generation Scotland (n=1,024); and (ii) individuals from UK Biobank (n=27,202). This comprised n=28,226 for mega-analysis. MRI scans were processed using Free Surfer, providing cortical, subcortical, and global brain metrics. Regression models were used to determine associations between childhood trauma measures and brain metrics and psychiatric phenotypes. Childhood trauma associated with lifetime depression across cohorts (OR 1.06 GS, 1.23 UKB), and related to early onset and recurrent course within both samples. There was evidence for associations between childhood trauma and structural brain metrics. This included reduced global brain volume, and reduced cortical surface area with highest effects in the frontal (β=-0.0385, SE=0.0048, p(FDR)=5.43x10-15) and parietal lobes (β=-0.0387, SE=0.005, p(FDR)=1.56x10-14). At a regional level the ventral diencephalon (VDc) displayed significant associations with childhood trauma measures across both cohorts and at mega-analysis (β=-0.0232, SE=0.0039, p(FDR)=2.91x10-8). There were also associations with reduced hippocampus, thalamus, and nucleus accumbens volumes. Associations between childhood trauma and reduced global and regional brain volumes were found, across two independent UK cohorts, and at mega-analysis. This provides robust evidence for a lasting effect of childhood adversity on brain structure.

The effect of childhood adversities on the persistence of suicidal ideation and plans among college students: A longitudinal study

BackgroundExposure to childhood adversities (CAs) is known to be associated with the onset of suicidal ideation and plans. However, little is known regarding the contribution of CAs to their persistence. AimsThe study aims to examine the type, number and frequency of CA exposure on the persistence of suicidal ideation and plans at one-year. MethodData were drawn from the French portion of the World Mental Health International College Student survey. At baseline (n = 2661, response rate = 7,58 %), exposure to 12 types of CAs prior to age 18, lifetime mental disorders, lifetime and 12-month suicidal ideation and plans were assessed. At one-year follow-up (n = 1221), 12-month mental disorders, suicidal ideation and plans were assessed. Among those with a prior history of suicidal ideation, logistic regressions were performed to examine the role of CAs on the persistence of ideation and plans at one-year. ResultsAt baseline, frequency and number of CAs were associated with 12-month suicidal ideation and plans. Among lifetime ideators, 49.6 % reported 12-month suicidal ideation at follow-up. Physical abuse was associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation and plan persistence at one year in univariate analyses. However, CAs were not associated with the persistence of suicidal ideation and plans at one-year in multivariate analyses. LimitationsRetrospective report of CA exposure, and low baseline response rate. ConclusionsUsing a fine-grained operationalization of CA exposure, CAs were not involved in the persistence of suicidal ideation or plans, their deleterious effect more likely to occur early in the course of psychopathology.

Do childhood adversity and sensory processing sensitivity interact to predict meaningful activity engagement in adulthood?

Introduction A core tenet of occupational therapy is that engagement in meaningful activities is integral for a person’s health and wellbeing. Childhood adversity can have lifelong impacts on physical and mental health; however, the effects of childhood experiences are dependent on the presence of susceptibility factors, including sensory processing sensitivity. To date, the effects of childhood adversity and sensory processing sensitivity have not been investigated for meaningful activity engagement. This study seeks to determine whether childhood adversity is related to engagement in meaningful activities in adulthood and whether this relationship is moderated by sensory processing sensitivity. Method Using convenience snowball sampling, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 328 adults. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires, including the Risky Families Questionnaire, Highly Sensitive Person Scale and Engagement in Meaningful Activities Scale. Results Correlational analyses found that childhood adversity was related to significantly less meaningful activity engagement in adulthood, but this relationship was not moderated by sensory processing sensitivity. Conclusion This study showed, for the first time, that a history of childhood adversity is linked to less engagement in meaningful activities in adulthood. While further research is needed, supporting meaningful activity engagement may be necessary for adults who experienced childhood adversity.

Childhood exposure to family violence and adult sibling relationships

AbstractObjectiveThis study investigated how experiencing childhood family violence can affect aspects of adult sibling relationships.BackgroundEstablished evidence shows the long‐term effects of childhood adversity on several domains of adult lives. Few studies, however, have examined the impact that childhood family violence exposure has on sibling relationships later in adulthood. To address this gap, this study examined the latent class structure of childhood exposure to family violence. We also investigated whether and how latent class membership predicted aspects of adult sibling relationships, including geographical proximity, contact frequency, perceived closeness, similarity in outlook, and support exchange.MethodData for the study were obtained from 3921 adult participants in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. Using the Bolck, Croon, and Hagenaars (BCH) approach of latent class analysis (LCA), we identified five latent classes (prevalence rate noted): No Exposure to Family Violence (75%), Exposed to Intersibling Violence (7%), Exposed to Overall Family Violence (4%), Exposed to Paternal and Interparental Violence (10%), and Exposed to Maternal and Interparental Violence (5%).ResultsChildhood family violence was a significant predictor of adult sibling relationships. Specifically, we found that the Intersibling Violence, Overall Family Violence, and Paternal and Interparental Violence classes showed lower levels of perceived emotional closeness and similarity in values/outlook with their siblings than the No Exposure to Violence class.ConclusionFindings suggest that childhood exposure to family violence may have long‐term negative effects on the emotional aspect of sibling relationships in adulthood.

A Decade of Trauma-Informed Care: An Organizational Case Study

ABSTRACT There is optimism that the effects of childhood adversity can be mitigated through trauma-informed care (TIC) practices in school settings. This study investigated a nonprofit, therapeutic school’s experience with implementing and sustaining TIC. At both the organizational and individual levels, factors exist that complicate the application of TIC principles. This case study utilized a qualitative approach to better understand staff’s conceptualization of TIC, their attitudes concerning TIC, and their experiences using TIC practices. After a decade of TIC within the organization, the study found that staff have maintained overall favorable attitudes toward TIC, assimilated TIC principles into their beliefs about students, and view student aberrant behaviors through a TIC lens. Conversely, TIC failed to serve as a protective factor for staff due to an insufficient response from larger systems. Finally, the study showed that the lack of attention to historical traumas and systemic racism has the potential to compel staff to diverge from TIC practices. This research adds to the literature as it amplified the voices of staff to reveal the benefits and challenges of TIC.