Using Methods from Personality Psychology to Study Post-Traumatic Growth

This chapter discusses methodological approaches for examining the causality, accuracy, stability, and mechanisms of short-term adversity-driven change in samples drawn from different populations, each highly likely to be exposed to different forms of challenge and failure. This methodological work builds on Frazier et al.’s (2009) groundbreaking longitudinal study. The authors discuss the advantages of using longitudinal multimethod measurement burst designs and a profile approach utilizing a round-robin design, as well as a qualitative assessment. Each methodology promises to address novel questions concerning the perception, meta-perception, and development of character following challenge and failure. The chapter also examines individual difference factors, such as social support and cumulative life adversity, which may moderate this relationship. Given that participants from different populations likely differ in the amount of cumulative adversity they have experienced, the authors also examine the possibilities and limitations of lifetime adversity in acting as a catalyst for subsequent growth.

Disentangling adversity timing and type: Contrasting theories in the context of maternal prenatal physical and mental health using latent formative models

Research on the effects of adversity has led to mounting interest in examining the differential impact of adversity as a function of its timing and type. The current study examines whether the effects of different types (i.e., physical, sexual, and emotional abuse) and timing (i.e., early, middle childhood, adolescence, or adulthood) of adversity on maternal mental and physical health outcomes in pregnancy, are best accounted for by a cumulative model or independent effects model. Women from a prospective pregnancy cohort (N =3,362) reported retrospectively on their experiences of adversity (i.e., physical, sexual, and emotional abuse) in early childhood (0–5 years], middle childhood (6–12 years], adolescence (13–18 years], and adulthood (19+ years]. Measures of overall health, stress, anxiety, and depression were gathered in pregnancy. Results showed that a cumulative formative latent model was selected as more parsimonious than a direct effects model. Results also supported a model where the strength of the effect of adversity did not vary across abuse timing or type. Thus, cumulative adversity resulted in greater physical and mental health difficulties. In conclusion, cumulative adversity is a more parsimonious predictor of maternal physical and mental health outcomes than adversity at any one specific adversity timing or subtype.

Influence of race/ethnicity and income on the link between adverse childhood experiences and child flourishing

Background The impact of early adversity increases the risk of poor outcomes across the life course. Identifying factors that protect against or contribute to deleterious life outcomes represents an important step in resilience promotion among children exposed to adversity. Informed by resilience science, we hypothesized that family resilience mediates the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and child flourishing, and these pathways vary by race/ethnicity and income. Methods We conducted a secondary data analysis using the 2016–17 National Survey of Children’s Health data reported by parents/guardians for 44,686 children age 6–17 years. A moderated-mediation model estimated direct, indirect, and total effects using a probit link function and stacked group approach with weighted least square parameter estimates. Results The main variables were related in expected directions. Family resilience partially mediated the ACEs-flourishing association. Although White and socioeconomically advantaged families were more likely to maintain family resilience, their children functioned more poorly at high-risk levels relative to Black and Hispanic children and across income groups. Conclusion Children suffer from cumulative adversity across race/ethnicity and income. Partial mediation of family resilience indicates that additional protective factors are needed to develop comprehensive strategies, while racial/ethnic differences underscore the importance of prevention and intervention programs that are culturally sensitive. Impact The key message of the article reinforces the notion that children suffer from cumulative adversity across race/ethnicity and income, and prevention of ACEs should be the number one charge of public policy, programs, and healthcare. This is the first study to examine family resilience in the National Survey Children’s Health (NSCH) data set as mediating ACEs-flourishing by race/ethnicity and family poverty level. Examining an ACEs dose–response effect using population-based data within the context of risk and protective factors can inform a public health response resulting in a greater impact on prevention efforts.

The Strain of Sons' Incarceration on Mothers' Health

Research on disadvantage across generations typically focuses on the resources that parents pass on to their children. Yet, social disadvantage might also result from the transmission of adverse experiences from children to their parents. This paper explores one such adverse experience by examining the influence of a son’s incarceration on his mother’s health. Using panel data from the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and its young adult follow up (n=2,651 mothers; 18,390 observations), the paper shows that mothers are more likely to suffer health limitations after a son is incarcerated. A time-distributed fixed effects analysis indicates that the effect on maternal health may persist or even grow over time. Rather than a short-term shock whose effect soon diminishes, a son’s incarceration is a long-term strain on mothers’ health. The disproportionate incarceration of young men in disadvantaged communities is thus likely to contribute to cumulative adversity among mothers already at risk of severe hardship. More broadly, the results suggest how children’s adverse experiences may influence parental well-being, producing further disadvantage across generations.