Adverse childhood experiences: Pathways to internalising and externalising problems in young adulthood

Although adverse childhood experiences have been closely linked to a variety of adjustment difficulties in adulthood, less is known about which specific adverse experience or combinations of experiences are differentially predictive of internalising and externalising problems. This would undoubtedly enhance early adverse childhood experiences prevention and intervention programmes. Therefore, this research aims to explore the impact of adverse childhood experiences (abuse and neglect) on deviant behaviour, as well as depressive, anxious and stress symptoms in a community sample of Spanish young adults aged 18–20 years old (N = 270). All participants were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling methods as part of the International Study SOCIALDEVIANCE1820. All answered self-report questionnaires about sociodemographic issues, adverse childhood experiences as well as current deviant behaviour and current internalising symptoms. Regression and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis showed that experiencing either physical abuse or a combination of emotional abuse and emotional neglect may lead to externalising problems in men. Internalising problems, however, were linked to the cumulative effect of multiple adverse experiences and were more frequent in women. These pathways to both externalising and internalising problems suggest a differential impact of adverse experiences.Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Jaume

Desentrañando el impacto de la conciliación víctima-infractor en la reincidencia juvenil

Victim-offender mediation has been considered a highly valued educational measure in the field of restorative justice, but which is its real impact on youth recidivism from an evidence-based perspective? The aim of this study was to examine the effect of this type of intervention on Spanish juvenile offenders assigned two educational interventions (N = 104): victim-offender mediation (VOM) and community service (CS). Youth offenders were aged between 14-18 years (M = 16.04), and their risk level was assessed by the YLS/CMI Inventory. A 24-month follow-up period was taken into account to evaluate recidivism. Results showed that the type of intervention applied to minors did not have a significant differential effect on subsequent recidivism rates. However, risk level proved to be a determining variable for predicting recidivism. Therefore, it is an adequate matching with minors’ real situation and not the educational measure per se which influences recidivism.La conciliación víctima-infractor ha sido siempre considerada como una medida educativa muy valorada en el ámbito de la justicia restaurativa, pero ¿cuál es su impacto real en la reincidencia de los jóvenes desde una perspectiva basada en la evidencia? El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el impacto de este tipo de medida educativa en una muestra de menores infractores de nacionalidad española, los cuales fueron asignados a dos tipos de medidas educativas (N = 104): la conciliación víctima-infractor y las prestaciones en beneficio de la comunidad. Los menores infractores tenían edades comprendidas entre los 14 y los 18 años (M = 16.04) y su nivel de riesgo fue evaluado por el Inventario YLS/CMI. Se tuvo en cuenta un período de seguimiento de 24 meses para evaluar la reincidencia. Los resultados mostraron que el tipo de intervención aplicada al menor no tenía un efecto diferencial significativo en las tasas de reincidencia posteriores. Sin embargo, el nivel de riesgo resultó ser una variable determinante para predecir la reincidencia. Por lo tanto, es la adecuación a la situación real del menor y no la medida educativa per se la que influye en la reincidencia

¿Influyen las experiencias adversas infantiles en el comportamiento antisocial y altruista durante la adultez emergente?

El hecho de vivir experiencias o eventos negativos en edades tempranas (niñez y adolescencia) se ha relacionado con la aparición de diferentes consecuencias conductuales negativas en edades más tardías. Por ejemplo, se ha visto que algunos comportamientos antisociales específicos, como estar implicado en la delincuencia juvenil o la persistencia en el crimen, están relacionados con experiencias infantiles adversas (ACE). Sin embargo, en comparación con la conducta antisocial, muy pocos estudios han abordado la relación existente entre las ACE y la conducta altruista. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del presente estudio fue examinar la posible influencia de las experiencias adversas infantiles en el comportamiento social durante el periodo de adultez emergente (conducta antisocial y altruista concretamente). La muestra del estudio estuvo formada por 490 jóvenes con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 20 años, con una media de 18,90 años (DT=0,77). Todos ellos completaron voluntariamente una serie de cuestionarios de autoinforme: experiencias adversas en la infancia, la escala de comportamiento antisocial y la escala altruista. Los resultados mostraron que, en los modelos de regresión lineal, las ACE eran fuertes predictoras de las conductas antisociales. Además, algunas ACE específicas (el abuso físico en el comportamiento antisocial y la negligencia emocional en las conductas altruistas) produjeron un efecto diferencial y significativo. La prevención o detección temprana de las ACE durante la infancia podría contribuir a disminuir los patrones de comportamiento inadaptados y a aumentar los altruistas durante la edad adulta emergente y la edad adulta.The experience of facing negative events in early ages (childhood and adolescence) has consistently been linked to different negative outcomes in later ages. For example, some specific deviant behaviors such as juvenile justice involvement or persistence in crime have been found to be related to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Nevertheless, in comparison to deviant behavior, very few studies have focused on the link between ACE and altruistic behavior. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to examine the possible influence of adverse childhood experiences in the social behavior exhibited in emerging adulthood (deviant and altruistic specifically). The study population consisted of 490 community youth adults between the ages of 18 to 20 years, with a mean of 18.90 years (SD=0.77). All of them completed self-report questionnaires on a voluntary basis: the Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire, the Deviant Behavior Scale, and the Altruistic Scale. Linear regression models found that ACEs were strong and positive predictors of deviant behaviors. Moreover, some specific ACEs (physical abuse for deviant behavior, and emotional neglect for altruistic conducts) yielded a differential and significant effect. The prevention or early detection of ACEs during childhood could contribute to diminish maladaptive patterns of behavior and to increase altruistic ones during emerging adulthood and adulthood

Does the type of maltreatment suffered in childhood influence the adoption of adult coping mechanisms?

Las Experiencias Adversas en la Infancia (ACEs) son un factor de riesgo para múltiples patologías tanto físicas como psicológicas, y pueden conllevar la adopción de estrategias de riesgo como el consumo de drogas, las conductas transgresoras, u otro tipo de mecanismo de afrontamiento como la creencia religiosa. Así, el objetivo de este estudio es analizar cómo influyen las ACEs en la adopción de diferentes estrategias de afrontamiento, en concreto: consumo de sustancias, fracaso escolar, creencias religiosas y alistamiento en el ejército. Los participantes, 490 jóvenes de entre 18 y 20 años, respondieron al cuestionario de Experiencias Adversas Infantiles (abuso, negligencia y disfunciones en el hogar), así como a diferentes preguntas sobre las variables de estudio. Los resultados indicaron que las estrategias de afrontamiento variaban en función del tipo de experiencia adversa sufrida. Por ejemplo, el abuso se asociaba con el consumo de drogas, la negligencia, con el fracaso escolar y las disfunciones en el hogar, con la perdida de religiosidad. En conclusión, parecen existir diferentes mecanismos de afrontamiento en función del tipo de maltrato específico, lo que puede permitir una actuación y detección mucho más temprana y eficiente por parte de los profesionales.Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are a risk factor for multiple physical and psychological pathologies, which can lead to the adoption of risky strategies such as drug and alcohol use, deviant behaviours, or other coping mechanisms such as religious beliefs. Thus, the main objective of this study is to analyse how ACEs influence the adoption of different coping strategies, specifically: substance use, school failure, religious beliefs, and enlistment in the army. Participants were 490 young people between 18 and 20 years old, who responded to the Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire (abuse, neglect, and household dysfunctions), as well as to different questions about the study variables. The results indicated that coping strategies varied according to the type of adverse experience suffered. For example, abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual) was associated with drug use, neglect (physical and emotional) with school failure and dysfunction at home (alcoholic family member, domestic violence, etc.), with loss of religiosity. In conclusion, there seem to be different coping mechanisms depending on the specific type of maltreatment, which may allow for much earlier and more efficient action and detection by professionals

¿Es el inventario YLS/CMI capaz de predecir la reincidencia delictiva de los menores infractores de diferentes etnias?

La evaluación del riesgo en los menores infractores juveniles es crítica para reducir la posibilidad de reincidencia delictiva en un futuro. No obstante, poca literatura ha analizado la aplicabilidad de las herramientas de evaluación de riesgos para poblaciones pertenecientes a diferentes etnias. Por ello, este estudio se realizó para evaluar la validez predictiva del Youth Level of Service / Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) en su versión española (IGI), en dos grupos étnicos diferentes en España. Para abordar este tema, se completó el inventario para una muestra de menores infractores de etnia árabe (N = 116) y menores infractores de etnia gitana (N = 91). Los resultados de estos grupos se compararon con los obtenidos por los menores infractores que no pertenecían a ninguna de estas etnias (N = 140). Todos los participantes tenían edades comprendidas entre 14 y 17 años. Para evaluar la reincidencia delictiva, se analizaron los expedientes posteriores después de la fecha de la primera evaluación llevada a cabo por el Equipo Técnico de Menores de Castellón (período de seguimiento: del 2012 al 2017). En primer lugar, se realizó una serie de pruebas t para muestras independientes para examinar posibles variaciones en la puntuación total del YLS/CMI para los diferentes grupos de menores infractores. Además, se realizó la curva ROC y el análisis de regresión logística para determinar la validez predictiva del inventario YLS/CMI. Aunque el inventario parece ser un instrumento de riesgo capaz de predecir la reincidencia entre todos los grupos, apunta a una evaluación de riesgos más precisa para el grupo no étnico en comparación con el resto de los grupos. Esto puede indicar que la variable étnica es un factor que los profesionales deben tener en cuenta a la hora de usar este tipo de evaluaciones de riesgo.The evaluation of risk in juvenile offenders is critical to reduce the possibility of criminal recidivism in the future. However, little literature has analyzed the applicability of risk assessment tools for populations belonging to different ethnic groups. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the predictive validity of the Youth Level of Service / Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) in its Spanish version (IGI), in two different ethnic groups in Spain. To address this issue, the Inventory was completed for a sample of young Arab offenders (N = 116) and young offenders of the Roma ethnic group (N = 91). The results of these groups were compared with those obtained by the minor offenders who did not belong to any of these ethnic groups (N = 140). All the participants were between the ages of 14 and 17 years old. To evaluate the criminal recidivism, the subsequent files were analyzed after the date of the first evaluation carried out by the Castellón Minors Technical Team (follow-up period: 2012 to 2017). First, a series of t tests for independent samples was conducted to examine possible variations in the total YLS/CMI score for different groups of juvenile offenders. In addition, the ROC curve and the logistic regression analysis were performed to determine the predictive validity of the YLS/CMI inventory. Although the inventory seems to be a risk instrument capable of predicting recidivism among all groups, it points to a more accurate risk assessment for the non-ethnic group compared to the rest of the groups. This may indicate that the ethnic variable is a factor that professionals must take into account when using this type of risk assessment

Las experiencias traumáticas en la infancia y su impacto en la adultez temprana: donde emerge la resiliencia

While the overall relationship between child abuse and later developmental problems is well established, it is also true that not all children who suffer from adverse childhood experiences will develop negative consequences. Therefore, the aim of this research is to analyse whether there are "buffering" effects of certain adverse childhood experiences on the adoption of risky behaviours in adult life (e.g., alcohol and drug use) which may open a way for future studies on resilient behaviours. Data was collected from 490 young adults aged 18-20, who answered the Adverse Childhood Experience questionnaire, as well as two questions related to the frequency of alcohol and drug use. The results indicated that while some types of traumatic experiences (such as sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect or substance use in the home) increased the likelihood of alcohol or drug use, other types of traumatic experiences (such as domestic violence or living with a mentally ill family member) reduced this likelihood. In conclusion, the results of this study offer clues about possible resilience mechanisms in minors with traumatic experiences, which open new and encouraging research lines in the field of victimologyAunque la relación general entre maltrato infantil y problemas posteriores está más que comprobada, también es cierto que no todos los menores que sufren experiencias traumáticas infantiles presentan consecuencias negativas. Por ello, el objetivo de esta investigación es el de analizar si existen efectos “amortiguadores” de ciertas experiencias traumáticas infantiles en la adopción de conductas de riesgo en la vida adulta (por ejemplo, consumo de alcohol y drogas), que puedan abrir la vía para futuros estudios sobre conductas resilientes. Se recogieron los datos de 490 jóvenes de entre 18 y 20 años, los cuales respondieron al cuestionario de Experiencias Adversas Infantiles, así como a dos preguntas relacionadas con la frecuencia de consumo de alcohol y drogas. Los resultados indicaron que, mientras que algunos tipos de experiencias traumáticas (como el abuso sexual, el abuso emocional, la negligencia o el consumode substancias en el hogar) incrementaban la probabilidad del uso de alcohol o drogas, otros tipos de experiencias traumáticas (como la violencia doméstica o vivir con un familiar con enfermedad mental), la reducían. En conclusión, los resultados obtenidos ofrecen pistas sobre posibles mecanismos de resiliencia en los menores con experiencias traumáticas, que abren nuevas vías alentadorasen el campo de la victimología

Does It Run in the Family? Intergenerational Transmission of Household Dysfunctions

One of the most evident negative outcomes of adverse childhood experiences at vulnerable ages in childhood and adolescence seems to be intergenerational transmission or continuity in later periods of life. Most studies analyze this phenomenon in terms of direct victimizations, but what about the intergenerational transmission of more indirect victimizations, such as household dysfunctions (substance abuse, mental illness, or incarceration in the family)? The objective of this study is to examine if young adults present similar dysfunctions to those they experienced in their family as a child. This study included 420 Spanish young adults aged between 18 and 20 (M = 18.92), 63.3% of whom were females. All of them answered self-report questionnaires about household dysfunctions during their childhood and adolescence, and a general questionnaire about current similar behavior (drug and alcohol use, mental health problems and psychological distress, coping strategies, detentions/arrests, and deviant behavior), at the same data collection period. Both regression models and fuzzy qualitative analyses support the intergenerational transmission or continuity of household dysfunctions in this Spanish population. Some household dysfunctions presented a more univocal and specific intergenerational transmission process and others were mainly present in combination to yield negative results

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

Cross-cultural adaptability of parenting interventions designed for childhood behavior problems: A meta-analysis

The dissemination of parenting interventions is one of the advised approaches to globally counteract childhood behavior problems, delinquency, and future criminal careers. Many of these interventions are developed in Anglosphere countries and transported to other contexts with distinct cultural backgrounds. However, there are no meta-analyses evaluating the overall effectiveness of these Anglosphere parenting programs in non-Anglosphere settings. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the effectiveness of parenting interventions developed in Anglosphere countries when transported to non-Anglosphere countries, as well as compare effectiveness levels between Anglosphere and non-Anglosphere trials; and analyze the impact of research and contextual factors in the dissemination of these interventions. Parenting interventions were included if they were: created in an Anglosphere setting; tested in non-Anglosphere countries; focused on reducing childhood behavioral problems; designed for children ranging from two to 12 years old; and tested in an experimental randomized trial. A random-effects model was selected for our meta-analysis. Standardized mean differences, confidence intervals and prediction intervals were also computed. Twenty studies were included, and results suggest that parenting interventions designed for childhood behavior problems can be transported to non-Anglosphere countries and potentially maintain effectiveness. This study is a relevant contribution to the evidence of cross-cultural transportability of parenting interventions