Emotion regulation moderates between maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and oxytocin response

Background The effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on mental health, self-regulatory capacities, and overall resilience are well-known. Given such effects, ACEs may play a role in how individuals adjust to challenges later in life. Of interest in this study is the transition to university, a time of heightened stress when adapting to circumstances is required and when those with ACEs may need additional in-the-moment support to exercise resilience. A smartphone app may provide a worthwhile and readily accessible medium for a resilience intervention, provided behavioral outcomes are adequately evaluated. Objective This study evaluates the impact of an innovative, smartphone app–based resilience intervention. The JoyPop app was designed to promote resilience through the use of self-regulatory skills such as emotion regulation and executive functioning. Among a sample of first-year undergraduate students, we explored whether use of the app would be associated with positive changes in resilience and related outcomes, and whether these benefits were influenced by level of childhood adversity. Methods Participants (N=156) were requested to use the JoyPop app for 4 weeks, at least twice daily. Changes in resilience, emotion regulation, executive functioning, and depression were assessed after 2 and 4 weeks of app usage using multilevel modeling. Results The sample of 156 participants included 123 females and 33 males, with a mean age of 19.02 years (SD 2.90). On average participants used the app on 20.43 of the possible 28 days (SD 7.14). App usage was associated with improvements in emotion regulation (χ21=44.46; P<.001), such that it improved by 0.25 points on the 18-point scale for each additional day of app usage, and symptoms of depression (χ21=25.12; P<.001), such that depression symptoms were reduced by .08 points on the 9-point scale with each additional day of app usage. An interaction between ACEs and days of app usage existed for emotion regulation, such that participants with more adversity evidenced a faster rate of change in emotion regulation (P=.02). Conclusions Results highlight that daily incorporation of an app-based resilience intervention can help youth who have experienced adversity to improve emotion regulation skills and experience reductions in depression. The JoyPop app represents an important step forward in the integration of resilience intervention research with a technology-based medium that provides in-the-moment support.

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The Direct and Indirect Influences of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Physical Health: A Cross-Sectional Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17228507 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (22) ◽

pp. 8507

Author(s):

Yolanda Martín-Higarza ◽

Yolanda Fontanil ◽

María Dolores Méndez ◽

Esteban Ezama

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Physical Health ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Adult Population ◽

Regression Equations ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

Fear Of Rejection

A growing and significant body of research has documented the close relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and health outcomes in adults. Less is known about the complex pathways through which ACEs exert their influence. This article examines the direct relationship between the quality of perceived physical health and childhood adversities. The association between the adversities and the physical health with other psychological and social variables is also analyzed. Data were collected from a sample of 170 subjects, using tools to assess adverse childhood experiences, physical health-related quality of life, socioeconomic vulnerability, emotion regulation, coping strategies, attachment, and social support. Results showed a high frequency of ACEs among the adult population, and the correlation with poor physical health was highly significant. Regression equations to predict physical health also revealed the following as significant variables: wishful thinking, social withdrawal, and cognitive restructuring as coping styles; reappraisal to achieve emotion regulation; fear of rejection or abandonment, and desire for closeness in relation to attachment figures; hardship; and poor financial support. The relationship between the different forms of ACE and social vulnerability identifies the important indirect contribution of childhood adversity to health and socioeconomic conditions in adulthood.

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Patterns of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Their Influences on Depressive Symptoms, Difficulty in Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Maladjustment

Korean Journal of Child Studies ◽

10.5723/kjcs.2018.39.6.85 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (6) ◽

pp. 85-99

Author(s):

Aely Park ◽

Ick-Joong Chung

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Adverse Childhood

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Adverse Childhood Experiences and Building Resilience With the JoyPop App: Evaluation Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.25087 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Angela MacIsaac ◽

Aislin R Mushquash ◽

Shakira Mohammed ◽

Elizabeth Grassia ◽

Savanah Smith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Executive Functioning ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Smartphone App ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Point Scale ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

The Moment ◽

Resilience Intervention

BACKGROUND The effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on mental health, self-regulatory capacities, and overall resilience are well-known. Given such effects, ACEs may play a role in how individuals adjust to challenges later in life. Of interest in this study is the transition to university, a time of heightened stress when adapting to circumstances is required and when those with ACEs may need additional in-the-moment support to exercise resilience. A smartphone app may provide a worthwhile and readily accessible medium for a resilience intervention, provided behavioral outcomes are adequately evaluated. OBJECTIVE This study evaluates the impact of an innovative, smartphone app–based resilience intervention. The JoyPop app was designed to promote resilience through the use of self-regulatory skills such as emotion regulation and executive functioning. Among a sample of first-year undergraduate students, we explored whether use of the app would be associated with positive changes in resilience and related outcomes, and whether these benefits were influenced by level of childhood adversity. METHODS Participants (N=156) were requested to use the JoyPop app for 4 weeks, at least twice daily. Changes in resilience, emotion regulation, executive functioning, and depression were assessed after 2 and 4 weeks of app usage using multilevel modeling. RESULTS The sample of 156 participants included 123 females and 33 males, with a mean age of 19.02 years (SD 2.90). On average participants used the app on 20.43 of the possible 28 days (SD 7.14). App usage was associated with improvements in emotion regulation (χ21=44.46; P<.001), such that it improved by 0.25 points on the 18-point scale for each additional day of app usage, and symptoms of depression (χ21=25.12; P<.001), such that depression symptoms were reduced by .08 points on the 9-point scale with each additional day of app usage. An interaction between ACEs and days of app usage existed for emotion regulation, such that participants with more adversity evidenced a faster rate of change in emotion regulation (P=.02). CONCLUSIONS Results highlight that daily incorporation of an app-based resilience intervention can help youth who have experienced adversity to improve emotion regulation skills and experience reductions in depression. The JoyPop app represents an important step forward in the integration of resilience intervention research with a technology-based medium that provides in-the-moment support.

Download Full-text