trauma-informed interventions

Despite growing concerns about mental health difficulties among children and youth, limited empirical evidence exists on the extent to which adverse childhood experiences and resilience predict mental health difficulties among school-going children and youth in rural communities. This research explored the prevalence and psychosocial predictors of mental health difficulties among children and youth. The study adopted a correlational and descriptive research design. Respondents consisted of 837 children and youth, who were selected from Johannesburg West Education District. They were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q), and the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM) as data-collection instruments. Frequencies and percentages, regression analysis, and moderation analysis were conducted using Hayes' PROCESS Macro. Findings revealed that about 44.4%, 18.3%, and 37.3% of the participants were within the normal, borderline, and abnormal ranges of mental health well-being, respectively. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) significantly predicted mental health difficulties (β = .238, t = 7.071, p < .001), contributing about 5.6% of the variation in mental health difficulties among youth and children. Resilience is also a significant predictor (β = −.121, t = −3.524, p < .001), accounting for about 1.5% of the variation in mental health problems; higher resilience was associated with lower levels of mental health difficulties. Moderation analyses showed that age and gender did not significantly moderate the relationships between ACEs, resilience, and mental health difficulties. The study concludes that ACEs constitute a significant risk factor, whereas resilience serves as a protective factor. The findings highlight the need for trauma-informed interventions, resilience-building programmes, and comprehensive mental health support services to promote positive mental health outcomes among children and youth.

Abstract Internalizing problems are prevalent in childhood and are associated with exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs); however, their co-development across childhood remains understudied. Prior research documents sociodemographic disparities (i.e., race/ethnicity, sex, income) in ACE exposure and internalizing problems. The current study examined individual and co-developing trajectories of ACEs and internalizing problems and sociodemographic disparities among 4,655 diverse at-risk youth at ages 3, 5, and 9. Participants were 52.2% boys and racially and ethnically diverse, with 44.7% Black, 22.5% Hispanic, 16.7% Other, and 16.2% White youth. Results showed various trajectories with stable levels of cumulative ACE exposure over time and internalizing problems trajectories that decreased or increased over time. Findings provide some evidence for a dose–response relationship between ACEs and internalizing problems. Youth of Color (φ = 0.26, 0.11, 0.19) and from low-income backgrounds ( ϵ 2 = 0.07–0.09, 0.02, 0.06–0.08) were more likely to be in worse trajectories of ACEs, internalizing problems, and joint trajectories across ages 3, 5, and 9, respectively. Findings underscore the need for culturally responsive trauma-informed interventions and policy-level efforts that target the root cause of inequities.

چکیده مشکلات درونی‌سازی در دوران کودکی شایع هستند و با قرارگیری در معرض تجارب نامطلوب دوران کودکی (ACEs) مرتبط‌اند؛ با این حال، هم‌رشد آن‌ها در سراسر دوران کودکی کمتر مورد مطالعه قرار گرفته است. پژوهش‌های پیشین نابرابری‌های جمعیت‌شناختی (یعنی نژاد/قومیت، جنسیت، درآمد) را در قرارگیری در معرض ACE و مشکلات درونی‌سازی مستند کرده‌اند. مطالعه حاضر مسیرهای فردی و هم‌رشد ACEها و مشکلات درونی‌سازی و نابرابری‌های جمعیت‌شناختی را در میان ۴٬۶۵۵ نوجوان متنوع و در معرض خطر در سنین ۳، ۵ و ۹ سالگی بررسی کرد. شرکت‌کنندگان شامل ۵۲٫۲٪ پسر و از نظر نژادی و قومی متنوع بودند: ۴۴٫۷٪ سیاه‌پوست، ۲۲٫۵٪ اسپانیایی‌تبار، ۱۶٫۷٪ سایر و ۱۶٫۲٪ سفیدپوست. نتایج مسیرهای مختلفی را با سطوح پایدار قرارگیری تجمعی در معرض ACEها در طول زمان و مسیرهای مشکلات درونی‌سازی که در طول زمان کاهش یا افزایش می‌یافتند، نشان داد. یافته‌ها شواهدی برای رابطه دوز–پاسخ بین ACEها و مشکلات درونی‌سازی ارائه می‌دهد. نوجوانان رنگین‌پوست (φ = 0.26, 0.11, 0.19) و نوجوانان با پیشینه درآمد پایین (ϵ 2 = 0.07–0.09, 0.02, 0.06–0.08) به احتمال بیشتری در مسیرهای نامطلوب‌تر ACEها، مشکلات درونی‌سازی و مسیرهای مشترک در سنین ۳، ۵ و ۹ سال قرار داشتند. یافته‌ها بر ضرورت مداخلات مبتنی بر تروما با پاسخ فرهنگی و تلاش‌های سیاست‌گذاری که علت ریشه‌ای نابرابری‌ها را هدف قرار می‌دهند، تأکید می‌کند.