RESUMO
PURPOSE: Traumatic events in adolescence rarely occur in isolation. Multiple traumatic experiences are prevalent, diverse and a well-established risk factor for mental health disorders. The aim of this study was to explore and explain the heterogeneity in trauma profiles in a nationally representative sample of US adolescents. METHOD: Using latent class analysis, data on 10,123 adolescents aged between 13 and 18 from the National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement were examined. In addition, the relationships between the emergent classes and demographic and clinical variables were explored. RESULTS: A four-class solution was the best fit of adolescent trauma patterns, with classes labelled as low risk, sexual assault risk, non-sexual risk and high risk. When compared to the low risk class, those in the other classes were significantly more likely not to live with either biological parent, display symptoms indicative of mood and anxiety disorders, and to have higher rates of disorder comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: This provides evidence of four distinct groups of adolescents who have experienced a variety of traumas. Evidence demonstrates the increased risk of adolescents with a history of trauma meeting the diagnostic criteria for not only individual disorders but also comorbidity across disorder categories.
Assuntos
Comportamento do Adolescente/psicologia , Atitude Frente a Morte , Acontecimentos que Mudam a Vida , Transtornos Mentais/epidemiologia , Estresse Psicológico/epidemiologia , Violência/psicologia , Adolescente , Negro ou Afro-Americano/estatística & dados numéricos , Comorbidade , Demografia , Feminino , Hispânico ou Latino/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Transtornos Mentais/classificação , Vigilância da População , Prevalência , Risco , Fatores de Risco , Estados Unidos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Few studies have explored how different trauma experiences influence service use. This study explores patterns of service use amongst 6483 adolescents aged between 13 and 18, and examines if such patterns are associated with trauma profiles, demographic variables, and mental health disorders. Data from the National Comorbidity Survey--Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A) were used. A latent class analysis identified four adolescent trauma sub-groups: 'high risk', 'sexual risk' 'non-sexual risk', and 'low risk'. Regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between service use, trauma classes, and mental health outcomes. Significant relationships were found between service use, trauma sub-groups, demographics and mental health outcomes. Despite the effectiveness of mental health services, only a minority of adolescents exposed to different traumas use such resources. However, this study may go some way towards providing an understanding of the trauma backgrounds, demographic predictors and mental health disorders associated with service use.