About this paper symposium

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Panel information
Panel 9. Family Context & Processes

Paper #1
Patterns of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Early Alcohol Attitudes and Behaviors
Author information	Role
Sara A. Vasilenko, Ph.D., Syracuse University, United States	Presenting author
Kirstin L. Clear, Syracuse University, USA	Non-presenting author
Alyssa Abrams, Syracuse University, USA	Non-presenting author
Riley Hochwald, Syracuse University, USA	Non-presenting author
Xiafei Wang, Syracuse University, USA	Non-presenting author
Abstract
Introduction. People who experience a greater number of ACEs are at increased risk of problematic alcohol use and alcohol dependence (Barrera et al., 2019; LeTendre & Reed, 2017; Marks et al., 2021; Zhen-Duan et al., 2023). However, most research has used a sum score of the total number of ACEs experienced, although research has increasingly suggested that this approach ignores the unique effects of individual ACEs and the ways they may interact to lead to different outcomes (Senn et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2023). In addition, many studies have examined these topics in retrospective studies of adults, and little is known about how patterns of ACEs are associated with early alcohol use and attitudes. Method. Data were from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study (N = 11,891). We examined how latent classes of 14 ACEs, mostly measured at baseline (ages 9-10) were associated with two early alcohol behaviors (lifetime use and lifetime sips) and three attitudes (positive expectancies, negative expectancies, peer tolerance) at Y3 (ages 12-13). Results. Based on fit statistics and interpretability, we selected a 6-class model (Figure 1): Low ACEs (45%), Material Hardship and Community Violence (22%), Parent Mental Health (16%), Violence, Material Hardship and Parent Instability (8%), Household Instability and Violence (8%), and Household Dysfunction and Abuse. Class membership was associated with all alcohol outcomes; however, this association became non-significant for the alcohol use behaviors when controlling for demographics. In general, individuals in the Material Hardship and Community Violence class were less likely to have had a drink or sip of alcohol. Class membership was significantly associated with all attitudinal outcomes, even when controlling for demographics. Individuals in the Low ACEs class had the highest negative expectancies, and those in the Parent Mental Health class had the highest positive expectancies; however, those in the Parent Mental Health class also had higher negative expectancies than several classes, and did not differ from the Low ACEs class. The Material Hardship and Household Dysfunction and Abuse classes had the lowest negative expectancies, but also had the lowest positive expectancies. The Household Dysfunction and Abuse class had the highest peer tolerance, and the Low ACEs had the lowest. Discussion. When controlling for demographics, class membership was associated with alcohol attitudes, but not early alcohol use. It is possible these early adolescents have not had the opportunity to use alcohol, but their attitudes may play a role in shaping their future behavior. Findings on alcohol attitudes suggest that experiencing adversities, particularly those with higher rates of mental health and substance use issues, may be associated with perceiving both positive and negative effects of alcohol, as they may see the issues it has caused those around them but may see alcohol as an appealing way to deal with these adversities. The household dysfunction and abuse class reported the highest peer tolerance for alcohol, making them a future risk for engaging in alcohol use with peers. Findings suggest targeted intervention programs assessing different attitudes for those with different ACEs profiles.

Paper #2
Co-Occurrence of Child Maltreatment and Exposure to Interparental Violence: Implications for Early Childhood Behavioral Regulation.
Author information	Role
Ying Zhang, Ph.D., Clarkson University, United States	Presenting author
Qingyang Liu, Syracuse University, USA	Non-presenting author
Abstract
Background and Aims: Child maltreatment and intimate partner violence (IPV) have traditionally been addressed in isolation in research, policy, and service implementation (Renner, 2021). Past research has examined the negative effects of IPV exposure and maltreatment on children’s development of self-regulation (e.g., Zhang et al., 2023a, 2023b). However, most studies looked at the effect of the two types of adverse childhood experiences separately and overlooked the complexity of “polyvictimization,”e.g., multi-faceted victimization, that affects a significant number of children (Finkelhor et al., 2013). The National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence reveals that 15% of young respondents have endured six or more types of victimization, including caregiver maltreatment, exposure to violence, and direct physical abuse. On the other hand, the cumulative risk model (Evans et al., 2013) simplifies the impact of varied childhood experiences, not accounting for the unique consequences stemming from distinct combinations of multiple violence types. Therefore, this study adopts a person-cantered approach to examine the co-occurrence and unique combinations of child maltreatment (i.e., physical abuse, emotional maltreatment, and neglect) and exposure to maternal experiences of IPV (physical, sexual, and psychological violence), and identify potential groups of children who experience dual exposure. Additionally, we compare children’s levels of behavioral regulation across different latent profiles. Methods: Data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a national longitudinal survey of children born between 1998 and 2000, were analyzed. The analytical sample comprised 2,192 children whose mothers reported experiencing IPV or engaging in maltreatment when the children were three years old. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to identify distinct classes based on IPV and maltreatment indicators at age 3, and regression analyses were used to explore associations between these classes and child behavioral regulation at age 5. Results: The five-class solution indicated the best model fit and was selected as the final model (Table 2; Figure 1). The five classes included (1) Multifaceted IPV and Neglect (n = 66, 3%), which was characterized by a high probability of mothers experiencing multiple forms of IPV and children experiencing neglect; (2) Emotional IPV and Psychological Abuse (n = 610, 27.8%), which represented mothers experiencing emotional IPV and children experiencing psychological abuse; (3) Emotional IPV and Neglect (n = 240, 10.9%), which reflected mothers experiencing emotional IPV and children experiencing neglect; (4) Emotional IPV and Physical Abuse (n = 99, 4.5%), which depicted mothers emotional IPV and children experiencing physical abuse; and (5) Emotional IPV Only (n = 1,177, 53.7%), which presented the highest proportion of mother experiencing only emotional IPV. Notably, children in the first three classes displayed lower behavioral regulation compared to those exposed solely to emotional IPV. Implications: The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive assessments of poly victimization in children and suggest that interventions targeting specific combinations of maltreatment and IPV could enhance behavioral regulation. This person-centered approach aids in efficiently allocating resources and informs targeted strategies for prevention and intervention, highlighting the complex and interconnected nature of these adversities.

Paper #3
Nuances of Trauma: A Latent Class Analysis of Pre-Military Trauma Among Veteran Parents
Author information	Role
Dr. Xiafei Wang, Ph.D., Syracuse University, United States	Presenting author
Abstract
Backgrounds: Parents' traumatic experiences are risk factors for negative child development outcomes (Wang, 2019). Research on military families often focuses on the impact of parental combat-related PTSD on parenting and child outcomes (Yan et al., 2013; Williams et al., 2015), but it frequently overlooks other forms of trauma experienced before military service. Individuals with military backgrounds are particularly vulnerable to childhood trauma (Blosnich et al., 2014). Service members with significant childhood trauma typically function at lower levels than their peers who encountered few traumatic events and are more prone to suicidal behaviors, mood and anxiety disorders, and PTSD (O’Neal et al., 2016; Carroll et al., 2017; Sareen et al., 2013; Cabrera et al., 2007). Research on trauma within military families should broaden its focus beyond parental PTSD to include parents’ pre-military trauma. To better support the development of a nurturing environment for children in military families, studies should explore the heterogeneity and co-occurrence of different pre-military trauma types among military parents. Methods: Using Qualtrics online research panel, we collected data from 509 veteran parents with young children under 10. Parents’ pre-military trauma was assessed by 17 questions from the adapted Deployment Risk and Resilience Inventory-2 designed to assess military members' traumatic life experiences (Vogt et al., 2013). Sample questions include “I saw or heard physical fighting between my parents or caregivers,” and “I experienced unwanted sexual activity as a result of force, threat of harm, or manipulation during childhood.” We employed an innovative person-centered approach, latent class analysis (LCA), to uncover the underlying class memberships based on patterns of veteran parents’ pre-military trauma responses. Full Information Maximum Likelihood estimation with the robust maximum likelihood to handle nonnormality and missing data was applied in Mplus 8.7. Results: After evaluating the item response probability and interpretability, the 4-class solution was selected to proceed, considering it provided unique patterns of veteran parents’ pre-military trauma. Based on conditional item response probabilities (Figure 1), four classes were identified: The largest class was labeled as “Vicarious Trauma,” which comprised 38.7% of the sample. The vicarious trauma class was characterized by a high probability of experiencing someone’s death or serious illness. The second largest class was “Low ACEs,” which comprised 32% of the sample. Individuals in the low ACEs class exhibited a low probability of exposure to any pre-military trauma. The “Childhood Trauma” class represented 22.2% of the sample, which had a high probability of exposure to various childhood abuse, violence, and death. The “Childhood and Adulthood Trauma” comprised 7% of the sample, which was characterized by high probabilities of experiencing both childhood and adulthood trauma. Implications: Adopting a person-centered approach is crucial for advancing our understanding of military families, as distinct trauma patterns uniquely influence family dynamics and child outcomes. Our findings emphasize the importance of nuanced trauma screening for military parents. Instead of treating traumatic experience as a single score, recognizing the complexities and co-occurrence of various trauma types is essential for effectively designing preventative and treatment programs tailored to military families.

Paper #4
Lessons Learned from Room to Grow: A Multifaceted Intervention for Young Children Experiencing Economic Adversity
Author information	Role
Zelle (Allyson) Crawford, M.Ed., evolutionforward, United States	Presenting author
Abstract
Background: Children living in poverty, particularly at an early age when the brain is experiencing rapid development, often face developmental and educational challenges compared to their more advantaged peers. Many parenting programs for low-income families aim to mitigate these challenges but often neglect parents' economic needs. The Room to Grow (RtG) program, a multifaceted intervention supporting parents and children aged zero to three, addresses this gap by combining parenting support, community referrals, and financial aid in the form of material goods such as books, toys, and baby supplies. This intervention research examined the efficacy of RtG in providing implications for program development targeting young children experiencing poverty. Methods:The study recruited expectant parents from low-income backgrounds through referrals and an online application process. 317 participants were randomized into treatment (N = 158) and control groups (N = 159). The treatment group received parent coaching, material support, and community referrals. Families were assessed through home visits at baseline and follow-up phone surveys after one year of program participation. Outcomes measured included the goods in the home, parenting, mental health, and financial distress. We used intent-to-treat estimates to examine the impact of Room to Grow (RtG) on these four domains. Results:The study revealed the positive effects of the RtG program after one year. Parents in the treatment group reported more developmental materials in the home (toys and goods, effect size = 0.39, p <.001; books in the home, effect size = 0.51, p < .001). Significant improvements were observed in parental competence (effect size = 0.32, p < .001) and reductions in parenting aggravation (effect size = 0.28, p < .001). However, no significant changes were found in maternal depressive symptoms, financial worries about child-related expenses, and marginal effects were observed for perceived stress. Implications:These findings suggest that after one year, the RtG program effectively improved access to developmental materials and supported positive parenting behaviors among low-income families, suggesting the importance of helping parents financially in addition to traditional knowledge and education-based strategies. Integrating material support with parenting coaching may allow parents to focus more on their children’s long-term development. If sustained, the approach could offer a scalable model for addressing the material and parenting needs of low-income families with young children. However, the program did not alleviate parents’ depression or financial worries regarding their baby. We speculate that the material support provided by the RtG program was insufficient to address the broader economic challenges faced by these low-income families, which contribute to parents' depression and financial concerns. Given the significant impact of parental mental health on child development, more comprehensive, structural poverty alleviation programs are needed to create lasting change.

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