Cumulative childhood trauma and complex psychiatric symptoms in pregnant women and expecting men.

BACKGROUND: Women and men having been exposed to childhood trauma would be at high risk of various mental health symptoms while awaiting a child. This study aimed to evaluate the association between cumulative childhood trauma and the accumulation of symptoms belonging to different psychiatric problems in pregnant women and expecting men. METHODS: We first examined prevalence rates of childhood trauma across our samples of 2853 pregnant women and 561 expecting men from the community. Second, we evaluated the association between cumulative childhood trauma and symptom complexity (i.e., the simultaneous presentation of symptoms belonging to multiple psychiatric problems) using subsamples of 1779 pregnant women and 118 expecting men. Participants completed self-reported measures of trauma (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) and psychiatric symptoms (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5; Kessler Psychological Distress Scale; State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2; Self and Interpersonal Functioning Scale). RESULTS: Trauma was more frequent in pregnant women than in expecting men and in participants reporting sociodemographic risk factors than in those not reporting any. A dose-response relationship was observed between the number of different traumas reported by pregnant women and expecting men and the complexity of their psychiatric symptoms, even when controlling for the variance explained by other risk factors. Women having been exposed to cumulative childhood trauma were 4.95 times more at risk of presenting comorbid psychiatric problems during pregnancy than non-exposed women. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood trauma is frequent in the general population of pregnant women and expecting men and is associated with symptom complexity during the antenatal period. These findings call for delivering and evaluating innovative trauma-informed antenatal programs to support mental health and adaptation to parenthood in adults having been exposed to childhood trauma.

Emotion regulation deficits mediate childhood sexual abuse effects on stress sensitization and depression outcomes.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a notable risk factor for depressive disorders. Though multiply determined, increased sensitivity to stress (stress sensitization) and difficulty managing distress (emotion regulation) may reflect two pathways by which CSA confers depression risk. However, it remains unclear whether stress sensitization and emotion regulation deficits contribute to depression risk independently or in a sequential manner. That is, the frequent use of maladaptive emotion regulation responses and insufficient use of those that attenuate distress (adaptive emotion regulation) may lead to stress sensitization. We tested competing models of CSA, stress sensitization, and emotion regulation to predict depression symptoms and depressive affects in daily life among adults with and without histories of CSA. Results supported a sequential mediation: CSA predicted greater maladaptive repertoires that, in turn, exacerbated the effects of stress on depression symptoms. Maladaptive responses also exacerbated the effects of daily life stress on contemporaneous negative affect (NA) levels and their increase over time. Independent of stress sensitization, emotion regulation deficits also mediated CSA effects on both depressive outcomes, though the effect of maladaptive strategies was specific to NA, and adaptive responses to positive affect. Our findings suggest that emotion regulation deficits and stress sensitization play key intervening roles between CSA and risk for depression.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Rate of Memory Decline From Mid to Later Life: Evidence From the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

Evidence on the role of early-life adversity in later-life memory decline is conflicting. We investigated the relationships between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and memory performance and rate of decline over a 10-year follow-up among middle-aged and older adults in England. Data were from biennial interviews with 5,223 participants aged 54 years or older in the population-representative English Longitudinal Study of Ageing from 2006/2007 to 2016/2017. We examined self-reports of 9 ACEs prior to age 16 years that related to abuse, household dysfunction, and separation from family. Memory was assessed at each time point as immediate and delayed recall of 10 words. Using linear mixed-effects models with person-specific random intercepts and slopes and adjusted for baseline age, participants' baseline age squared, sex, ethnicity, and childhood socioeconomic factors, we observed that most individual and cumulative ACE exposures had null to weakly negative associations with memory function and rate of decline over the 10-year follow-up. Having lived in residential or foster care was associated with lower baseline memory (adjusted ß = -0.124 standard deviation units; 95% confidence interval: -0.273, -0.025) but not memory decline. Our findings suggest potential long-term impacts of residential or foster care on memory and highlight the need for accurate and detailed exposure measures when studying ACEs in relation to later-life cognitive outcomes.

The Long-Term Impact of Adversity in Adolescence on Health in Middle and Older Adulthood: A Natural Experiment From the Chinese Send-Down Movement.

The 1950s-1970s Chinese send-down movement can be treated as a natural experiment to study the impact of adolescent exposure on subsequent health. This paper used data from the China Family Panel Studies 2010 to evaluate the long-term impact of the Chinese send-down movement on individual health later in life. Drawing from the life-course perspective, results from difference-in-differences models suggested that the send-down experience had a significant impact on worse self-rated health; the pathways from structural equation models showed that subsequent achievements-age of marriage and educational attainment-had mediating effects linking the send-down experience to worse self-rated health and better mental health, respectively. Taken together, our results highlight the roles of the send-down experience and post-send-down characteristics in shaping health outcomes later in life.

Gambling Disorder and Childhood Trauma: A Complex Association.

Gambling disorder (GD) is classified as a behavioural addiction and has some phenotypic similarities with substance use disorders (SUDs). Childhood adversity and life stressors are associated with increased risk for SUDs in adulthood. However, there is limited research investigating the association between childhood trauma, stressors and behavioural addictions such as GD. In this case-control cross-sectional study, 31 adult patients with GD were compared to 31 matched healthy controls (HCs) in terms of exposure to early adversity using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF). In addition, past 12-month stressful life event exposure was assessed using the Life Event Stress Scale (LESS) and investigated as a possible moderator of the relationship between childhood trauma and GD by means of a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Logistic regression analyses were used to test if childhood trauma (CTQ-SF) and its subtypes were significant predictors of a diagnosis of GD. Severity of childhood trauma in general, and on all five subtypes, was significantly higher in GD patients compared to HCs. Childhood trauma was a significant predictor of a diagnosis of GD, with physical neglect being the single trauma subtype to significantly increase odds of GD in adulthood. Stressful life events moderated the relationship between childhood trauma and GD, i.e. childhood trauma was significantly higher in GD patients compared to HCs when LESS was low. The findings support a link between childhood trauma and GD, with current stress as a moderating variable, and may be useful for future individualized therapeutic strategies.

A systematic review on mediators between adversity and psychosis: potential targets for treatment.

Various psychological and biological pathways have been proposed as mediators between childhood adversity (CA) and psychosis. A systematic review of the evidence in this domain is needed. Our aim is to systematically review the evidence on psychological and biological mediators between CA and psychosis across the psychosis spectrum. This review followed PRISMA guidelines. Articles published between 1979 and July 2019 were identified through a literature search in OVID (PsychINFO, Medline and Embase) and Cochrane Libraries. The evidence by each analysis and each study is presented by group of mediator categories found. The percentage of total effect mediated was calculated. Forty-eight studies were included, 21 in clinical samples and 27 in the general population (GP) with a total of 82 352 subjects from GP and 3189 from clinical studies. The quality of studies was judged as 'fair'. Our results showed (i) solid evidence of mediation between CA and psychosis by negative cognitive schemas about the self, the world and others (NS); by dissociation and other post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms; and through an affective pathway in GP but not in subjects with disorder; (iii) lack of studies exploring biological mediators. We found evidence suggesting that various overlapping and not competing pathways involving post-traumatic and mood symptoms, as well as negative cognitions contribute partially to the link between CA and psychosis. Experiences of CA, along with relevant mediators should be routinely assessed in patients with psychosis. Evidence testing efficacy of interventions targeting such mediators through cognitive behavioural approaches and/or pharmacological means is needed in future.

Childhood adversity and psychosis: a systematic review of bio-psycho-social mediators and moderators.

The association between childhood adversity (CA) and psychosis has been extensively investigated in recent years. An increasing body of research has also focused on the mediating or moderating role of biological and psychological mechanisms, as well as other risk factors that might account for the link between CA and psychosis. We conducted a systematic search of the PsychINFO, Embase, Ovid, and Web of Science databases for original articles investigating the role of genetic vulnerabilities, environmental factors, psychological and psychopathological mechanisms in the association between CA and psychosis up to August 2019. We included studies with individuals at different stages of the psychosis continuum, from subclinical psychotic experiences to diagnosed disorders. From the 28 944 records identified, a total of 121 studies were included in this review. Only 26% of the studies identified met the criteria for methodological robustness. Overall, the current evidence suggests that CA may be associated with psychosis largely independently of genetic vulnerabilities. More consistent and robust evidence supports interaction between early and recent adversities, as well as the mediating role of attachment and mood symptoms, which is suggestive of an affective pathway between CA and psychosis across the continuum from subclinical experiences to diagnosable disorder. This review highlighted numerous methodological issues with the existing literature, including selection bias, heterogeneity of measurement instruments utilised, and lack of control for potential confounders. Future research should address these limitations to more accurately estimate mediation and moderation effects on the CA-psychosis association to inform the development of preventive interventions.

Adverse childhood experiences and adult mood problems: evidence from a five-decade prospective birth cohort.

BACKGROUND: Retrospectively recalled adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with adult mood problems, but evidence from prospective population cohorts is limited. The aims of this study were to test links between prospectively ascertained ACEs and adult mood problems up to age 50, to examine the role of child mental health in accounting for observed associations, and to test gender differences in associations. METHODS: The National Child Development Study is a UK population cohort of children born in 1958. ACEs were defined using parent or teacher reports of family adversity (parental separation, child taken into care, parental neglect, family mental health service use, alcoholism and criminality) at ages 7-16. Children with no known (n = 9168), single (n = 2488) and multiple (n = 897) ACEs were identified in childhood. Adult mood problems were assessed using the Malaise inventory at ages 23, 33, 42 and 50 years. Associations were examined separately for males and females. RESULTS: Experiencing single or multiple ACEs was associated with increased rates of adult mood problems after adjustment for childhood psychopathology and confounders at birth [2+ v. 0 ACEs - men: age 23: odds ratio (OR) 2.36 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7-3.3); age 33: OR 2.40 (1.7-3.4); age 42: OR 1.85 (1.4-2.4); age 50: OR 2.63 (2.0-3.5); women: age 23: OR 2.00 (95% CI 1.5-2.6); age 33: OR 1.81 (1.3-2.5); age 42: OR 1.59 (1.2-2.1); age 50: OR 1.32 (1.0-1.7)]. CONCLUSIONS: Children exposed to ACEs are at elevated risk for adult mood problems and a priority for early prevention irrespective of the presence of psychopathology in childhood.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Youth Cigarette Use in 2013 and 2016: Emerging Disparities in the Context of Declining Smoking Rates.

INTRODUCTION: Cigarette use has dropped dramatically among youth since 2013, but smoking-related disparities persist. We examine who still smokes in the context of declining smoking rates. Using the Minnesota Student Survey, we examine adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and cigarette use in 2013 and 2016. We assess how cigarette use rates changed, how ACEs relate to cigarette use, and the degree to which youth with ACEs comprise the current smoking population. METHODS: Data came from the 2013 and 2016 Minnesota Student Survey. We assessed past 30-day any and daily cigarette use statewide and among youth with no ACEs, high cumulative ACEs, and seven separate ACEs. We used descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Cigarette use significantly declined for all groups from 2013 to 2016. Youth with no ACEs exhibited the highest percent decrease in any and daily cigarette use. Youth with ACEs were more likely to report any and daily cigarette use in 2013 and 2016, adjusting for demographics. Among youth with any 30-day use, the rate of ACEs increased from 2013 to 2016. Youth with ACEs disproportionately accounted for youth smoking populations in 2013 and 2016. For example, although 16% of all youth experienced parental incarceration, approximately 43% and 55% of youth with any and daily cigarette use experienced parental incarceration in 2016, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette use declined from 2013 to 2016 for all Minnesota youth, but the decline among youth with no ACEs was faster than those with ACEs. Youth with ACEs now account for an increasingly high percent of youth smokers. IMPLICATIONS: Even though cigarette use is declining among Minnesota youth, the decline among youth without ACEs is faster than the decline among youth with ACEs. Youth with ACEs disproportionately account for all youth smokers, and this disproportionality has increased since 2013. Tobacco control efforts should focus on youth with ACEs, and parental incarceration is a specific ACE that warrants attention. Rates of parental incarceration remain high in the United States and youth who experience parental incarceration now account for a near majority of current youth smokers. Future research should consider mechanisms for the ACE-smoking relationship and emerging tobacco products (eg, electronic cigarettes).

Exploring the boundaries between borderline personality disorder and suicidal behavior disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical traits of suicidal vulnerability among in-patients with suicidal behavior disorder (SBD) with and without borderline personality disorder (BPD). METHOD: we recruited adult patients with SBD, consecutively and voluntarily hospitalized in a specialized unit for affective disorders and suicidal behavior between July and October 2016. Ninety-two inpatients having attempted suicide within the past 2 years were divided into two subgroups according to the presence or absence of BPD. Clinical vulnerability traits for suicidal behavior were assessed. RESULTS: Half of the patients with SBD also had BPD. Patients with BPD were nine times more likely to be major suicide repeaters compared to those without. They were also more likely to display clinical and psychological vulnerability traits for suicidal behavior, even after considering potential confounders. Emotional dysregulation, shame-proneness, impulsiveness, preoccupied attachment pattern, and childhood trauma were high in both groups, but significantly increased in those with (vs. without) BPD status. Psychological traits remained stable in SBD-BPD patients, regardless of the time since the last suicide attempt (i.e. SBD in recent vs. early remission). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and psychological traits associated with suicidal vulnerability are present in all SBD patients compared to non-suicidal populations, but comorbidity with BPD is associated with particularly high scores. BPD could be considered as a specifier for SBD diagnoses.

Parental divorce in childhood does not independently predict maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: This study sought to investigate if parental divorce in childhood increases the risk for depressive symptoms in pregnancy. METHODS: Women were recruited during their ultrasound screening in gestational week (gwk) 12. The final study sample consisted of 2,899 pregnant women. Questionnaires (including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) were completed at three measurement points (gwk 14, 24 and 34). Prenatal depressive symptoms were defined as Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score ≥ 13. Parental divorce and other stressful life events in childhood were assessed at gwk 14. Parental divorce was defined as separation of parents who were married or cohabiting. Questionnaire data was supplemented with data from Statistics Finland and the Finnish Medical Birth Register. RESULTS: Parental divorce in childhood increased the risk for depressive symptoms during pregnancy (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.02-2.13), but the connection was no longer significant after adjusting for socioeconomic status, family conflicts and witnessing domestic violence in the childhood family (OR 0.80; 95% CI 0.54-1.18). CONCLUSIONS: Parental divorce alone does not predict depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

Childhood Trauma and Childhood Mental Disorder in Military and Employed Civilian Men.

We aimed to retrospectively investigate childhood trauma and childhood mental disorder in military and employed civilian men aged 18 to 54 years. Data, derived from the 2010 Australian Defence Force (ADF) Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study and the 2007 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing Study, were analyzed and compared using direct age standardization and logistic regression. A greater proportion of ADF reported childhood trauma, multiple trauma types, trauma onset below 12 years of age, and interpersonal trauma than civilian employed men. A greater proportion of ADF reported childhood noninterpersonal trauma, such as accidents, than civilian employed men, with a marked difference in those aged 45 to 54 years. In both populations, childhood disorder was associated with childhood trauma; however, childhood depression was not associated with childhood noninterpersonal trauma in either population. A deeper understanding of the longer-term risk and resilience conferred by different childhood trauma profiles is needed.

Poor family relationships in adolescence as a risk factor of in-patient psychiatric care across the life course: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Previous research has shown that poor family relations in childhood are associated with adverse mental health in adulthood. Yet, few studies have followed the offspring until late adulthood, and very few have had access to register-based data on hospitalisation due to psychiatric illness. The aim of this study was to examine the association between poor family relations in adolescence and the likelihood of in-patient psychiatric care across the life course up until age 55. Methods: Data were derived from the Stockholm Birth Cohort study, with information on 2638 individuals born in 1953. Information on family relations was based on interviews with the participants' mothers in 1968. Information on in-patient psychiatric treatment was derived from administrative registers from 1969 to 2008. Binary logistic regression was used. Results: Poor family relations in adolescence were associated with an increased risk of later in-patient treatment for a psychiatric diagnosis, even when adjusting for other adverse conditions in childhood. Further analyses showed that poor family relations in adolescence were a statistically significant predictor of in-patient psychiatric care up until age 36-45, but that the strength of the association attenuated over time. Conclusions: Poor family relationships during upbringing can have serious negative mental-health consequences that persist into mid-adulthood. However, the effect of poor family relations seems to abate with age. The findings point to the importance of effective interventions in families experiencing poor relationships.

Adverse childhood experiences in families with multiple members diagnosed to have psychiatric illnesses.

OBJECTIVE: Adverse childhood experiences are linked to the development of a number of psychiatric illnesses in adulthood. Our study examined the pattern of adverse childhood experiences and their relation to the age of onset of major psychiatric conditions in individuals from families that had ⩾2 first-degree relatives with major psychiatric conditions (multiplex families), identified as part of an ongoing longitudinal study. METHODS: Our sample consisted of 509 individuals from 215 families. Of these, 268 were affected, i.e., diagnosed with bipolar disorder (n = 61), obsessive-compulsive disorder (n = 58), schizophrenia (n = 52), substance dependence (n = 59) or co-occurring diagnoses (n = 38), while 241 were at-risk first-degree relatives who were either unaffected (n = 210) or had other depressive or anxiety disorders (n = 31). All individuals were evaluated using the Adverse Childhood Experiences - International Questionnaire and total adverse childhood experiences exposure and severity scores were calculated. RESULTS: It was seen that affected males, as a group, had the greatest adverse childhood experiences exposure and severity scores in our sample. A Cox mixed effects model fit by gender revealed that a higher total adverse childhood experiences severity score was associated with significantly increased risk for an earlier age of onset of psychiatric diagnoses in males. A similar model that evaluated the interaction of diagnosis revealed an earlier age of onset in obsessive-compulsive disorder and substance dependence, but not in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that adverse childhood experiences were associated with an earlier onset of major psychiatric conditions in men and individuals diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and substance dependence. Ongoing longitudinal assessments in first-degree relatives from these families are expected to identify mechanisms underlying this relationship.

Experience of emergency department use among persons with a history of adverse childhood experiences.

BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, lower levels of distress tolerance, and greater emotional dysregulation, as well as with increased healthcare utilization. All these factors may lead to an increased use of emergency department (ED) services. Understanding the experience of ED utilization among a group of ED users with high ACE scores, as well as their experiences as viewed through the lens of a trauma and violence informed care (TVIC) framework, could be important to their provision of care. METHODS: This is the qualitative portion of a larger mixed methods study. Twenty-five ED users with high ACE scores completed in depth interviews. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts was undertaken and directed content analysis was used to examine the transcripts against a TVIC framework. RESULTS: The majority of participants experienced excellent care although challenges to this experience were faced by many in the areas of registration and triage. Some participants did identify negative experiences of care and stigma when presenting with mental health conditions and pain crises, as did participants who perceived that they were considered "different" (dressed differently, living in poverty, young parents, etc.). Participants were thoughtful about their reasons for seeking ED care including lack of timely access to their family doctor, perceived urgency of their condition, or needs that fell outside the scope of primary care. Participants' experiences mapped onto a TVIC framework such that their needs and experiences could be framed using a TVIC lens. CONCLUSIONS: While the ED care experience was excellent for most participants, even those with a trauma history, there existed a subset of vulnerable patients for whom the principles of TVIC were not met, and for whom implementation of trauma informed care might have a positive impact on the overall experience of care. Recommendations include training around TVIC for ED leadership, staff and physicians, improved access to semi-urgent primary care, ED patient care plans integrating TVIC principles, and improved support for triage nurses and registration personnel.

Change processes related to long-term outcomes in eating disorders with childhood trauma: An explorative qualitative study.

To date, eating disorder (ED) treatments are lacking for ED patients with psychiatric sequelae of childhood trauma, and successful outcomes are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore therapeutic change processes from a patient perspective in relation to good versus poor long-term ED outcome at 1-year follow-up. Outcome categories were based on clinician assessment of ED behavior and diagnoses, body mass index, and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire scores. Eleven White, cisgendered female ED patients with childhood trauma were interviewed after a 3-month inpatient treatment: data was analyzed with elements from grounded theory and interpretative phenomenological analysis. The qualitative analysis rendered change-related descriptions (9 subcategories) and obstacles to change (6 subcategories), and 3 process-related domains differentiated good from poor long-term outcome: trauma exposure (4 subcategories), patient agency (6 subcategories), and patient-therapist dynamics (3 subcategories). First, sensory and emotional trauma exposure in good outcome informants was contrasted with avoiding or not addressing trauma and body in poor outcome informants. Second, promotion of patient agency while receiving support in the good outcome group was contrasted to an orientation toward others' needs, distrust in own abilities, and difficulties showing vulnerability in the poor outcome group. Third, poor outcome informants described either a distanced or immersed/idealizing relationship to their therapist, as opposed to more balanced between self-assertion and vulnerability in good outcome informants. Our findings raise new hypotheses that trauma work, fostering patient agency, and focusing on relational dynamics in patient-therapist dyad may be important in producing enduring ED outcomes for these patients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

What do surviving children wish for from a dying parent? A qualitative exploration.

Legacy may play an important role in how children integrate the loss of a parent. Sixteen adults (19-40 years old, 69% women) who experienced the death of a parent from an illness before age 12 were interviewed, exploring legacies from their deceased parent. Transcribed interviews were iteratively analyzed by three independent coders. Extracted themes described their experiences and wish for remembrances and specific communication left for them, information about the parent's values and feelings about them, and personal possessions. This study provides novel data about legacies that bereaved children wish for in adulthood.

Adverse childhood experiences and alexithymia in patients with major depressive disorder.

The purpose of the article: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been postulated to negatively affect the development of emotional regulation. However, little is known about specific associations between ACEs, depressive symptoms, and alexithymia or its components [i.e. difficulty in identifying feelings (DIF), difficulty in describing feelings to others (DDF) and externally-oriented thinking (EOT)] in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The aims of the present cross-sectional study were to (1) compare ACEs (emotional neglect, emotional abuse, physical neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse) between alexithymic and non-alexithymic patients with MDD; (2) explore whether specific ACEs, depressive symptoms or the interaction between sex and depressive symptoms predicted TAS-20 or its components.Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 186 psychiatric outpatients with MDD (aged 21-61 years, mean 33.87 years, SD 10.88) recruited from the Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital between 2016-2019. Alexithymia and its components were assessed using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). ACEs were assessed with the Trauma and Distress Scale (TADS).Results: Almost all patients with alexithymia and 80% of non-alexithymic patients reported that they had experienced emotional abuse or neglect, at least sometimes. Approximately 60% of MDD patients reported having experienced physical neglect and 30% described physical abuse. Emotional and physical abuse and neglect predicted DDF score.Conclusions: These findings suggest that among MDD patients, early experiences of emotional and physical abuse and neglect is associated with difficulties in describing feelings in adulthood.

Posttraumatic growth and its correlates among survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer: A brief report.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe posttraumatic growth (PTG) levels among survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer (AYAs), and estimate relationships between PTG and medical (cancer type, age at diagnosis, time since treatment), behavioral (physical activity), and psychological (appearance evaluations, body satisfaction) variables.Methods: Eighty-eight AYAs (Mage=33 ± 4.4 years) completed a survey online that included the PTG-Inventory (PTG-I). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations.Findings: Total and subdimension PTG-I scores indicated moderate-to-high PTG levels, with the highest and lowest scores reported for appreciation of life and spiritual change, respectively. Appearance evaluations was moderately and positively correlated with the spiritual change subdimension (r = .31, p < .001). Relationships between PTG and other variables were of weak magnitude and not statistically significant (rs = 0-.21, ps > .05).Conclusions: More research exploring variables related to PTG among AYAs is needed to better understand antecedents and outcomes of PTG.

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Trauma Symptoms, Mindfulness, and Intimate Partner Violence: Therapeutic Implications for Marginalized Men.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma symptoms have been linked with intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and victimization among men, yet the field lacks depth in several key areas hampering progress toward violence intervention. Specifically, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) dominates the field's scope of trauma symptoms under study, limiting understanding of other manifestations of trauma especially among men. Furthermore, most research focuses exclusively on men's physical IPV perpetration and rarely focuses on other types of IPV, severity of violence, or men's victimization. Also, few studies examine potential protective factors grounded in the ACE framework, such as mindfulness, among clinical populations. Finally, most research has not focused on men of color, despite some racial/ethnic minority groups disproportionate rates of IPV exposure. Therefore, the relationships between IPV frequency and severity (psychological, physical, injury) and ACEs, PTSD, trauma symptomology (separate from PTSD), and mindfulness self-efficacy were examined in a sample of 67 predominantly low-income men of color in a batterer intervention program. More than half of the sample (51.5%) reported exposure to four or more ACEs, and 31.1% met the clinical cutoff for a probable PTSD diagnosis. Higher ACE scores predicted increased rates for nearly all types of self-reported IPV perpetration and victimization. PTSD symptoms and complex trauma symptom severity together explained between 13% and 40% of IPV outcomes, and each was uniquely associated with certain types of self-reported IPV victimization and perpetration frequency and severity. Mindfulness self-efficacy was associated with decreased self-report psychological IPV perpetration and victimization frequency and severity. Clinical implications relevant to marginalized men are reviewed, including screening, training, and potential therapeutic interventions.

Las experiencias adversas en la infancia (EAI) y los síntomas de trauma se han asociado con la perpetración de violencia de pareja y la victimización entre los hombres, sin embargo, el ámbito carece de profundidad en varias áreas clave que obstaculizan el avance hacia la intervención en la violencia. Específicamente, el trastorno por estrés postraumático (TEPT) domina el alcance de los síntomas de trauma del ámbito estudiado, lo cual limita la comprensión de otras manifestaciones de trauma, especialmente entre los hombres. Además, la mayoría de las investigaciones se centran exclusivamente en la perpetración de violencia física de pareja por parte de los hombres y rara vez se centra en otros tipos de violencia de pareja, en la gravedad de la violencia o en la victimización de los hombres. Además, pocos estudios analizan posibles factores protectores basados en el marco de las EAI, como la conciencia plena, entre las poblaciones clínicas. Finalmente, la mayoría de las investigaciones no se han centrado en los hombres de color, a pesar de algunos índices desmesurados de exposición a la violencia de pareja de grupos raciales/étnicos minoritarios. Por lo tanto, se analizó la relación entre la frecuencia de la violencia de pareja y la gravedad de esta (psicológica, física, lesiones) y las EAI, el TEPT, la sintomatología del trauma (aparte del TEPT), y la autoeficacia de la conciencia plena en una muestra de 67 hombres de color, predominantemente de bajos recursos, en un programa de intervención para golpeadores. Más de la mitad de la muestra (el 51, 5 %) informó exposición a cuatro o más EAI y el 31, 1 % alcanzó el umbral de decisión clínica para un diagnóstico probable de TEPT. Los puntajes más altos de EAI predijeron índices mayores de casi todos los tipos de perpetración de violencia de pareja y victimización autoinformadas. Los síntomas de TEPT y la gravedad de los síntomas de trauma complejo explicaron juntos entre el 13 % y el 40 % de los resultados de la violencia de pareja, y cada uno estuvo asociado exclusivamente con ciertos tipos de gravedad y frecuencia de la victimización y la perpetración de violencia de pareja autoinformadas. La autoeficacia de la conciencia plena estuvo asociada con una menor victimización y perpetración autoinformadas de la frecuencia y la gravedad de la violencia psicológica de pareja. Se revisan las implicancias clínicas relevantes para los hombres marginados, entre ellas, la evaluación, la capacitación y las posibles intervenciones terapéuticas.