Dimensionality of Early Adversity and Associated Behavioral and Emotional Symptoms: Data from a Sample of Japanese Institutionalized Children and Adolescents

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dimensionality of Early Adversity and Associated Behavioral and Emotional Symptoms

T2 - Data from a Sample of Japanese Institutionalized Children and Adolescents

AU - Zhang, Yuning

AU - Cecil, Charlotte C. A. M.

AU - Barker, Edward D.

AU - Mori, Shigeyuki

AU - Lau, Jennifer Y. F.

PY - 2019/6/15

Y1 - 2019/6/15

N2 - Recent approaches have begun to identify common variance across co-occurring childhood adversities (CAs) and their associations with symptoms of psychopathology. However, few studies have investigated these questions in high-risk samples, and in different cultural contexts. This study examined common variance amongst 18 types of CAs and associated symptomatology in 457 children and adolescents living in 24 residential homes in Japan. Principal component analysis identified four significant components that explained 35.1% of the variance: parental abuse, parental psychosocial risks, parental absence, and parental neglect. Path analysis revealed general as well as differential associations with negative outcomes: parental abuse, parental neglect, and parental psychosocial risks significantly associated with conduct problems, whereas parental abuse uniquely associated with peer problems, and parental neglect with hyperactivity/inattention. As well as confirming prior knowledge, these findings also extended understanding of these associations to a new cultural context. Future studies should take into account the multidimensional nature when assessing CAs.

AB - Recent approaches have begun to identify common variance across co-occurring childhood adversities (CAs) and their associations with symptoms of psychopathology. However, few studies have investigated these questions in high-risk samples, and in different cultural contexts. This study examined common variance amongst 18 types of CAs and associated symptomatology in 457 children and adolescents living in 24 residential homes in Japan. Principal component analysis identified four significant components that explained 35.1% of the variance: parental abuse, parental psychosocial risks, parental absence, and parental neglect. Path analysis revealed general as well as differential associations with negative outcomes: parental abuse, parental neglect, and parental psychosocial risks significantly associated with conduct problems, whereas parental abuse uniquely associated with peer problems, and parental neglect with hyperactivity/inattention. As well as confirming prior knowledge, these findings also extended understanding of these associations to a new cultural context. Future studies should take into account the multidimensional nature when assessing CAs.

KW - Childhood adversity

KW - Dimension

KW - Japan

KW - Symptomatology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85055894772&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s10578-018-0850-4

DO - 10.1007/s10578-018-0850-4

M3 - Article

SN - 0009-398X

VL - 50

SP - 425

EP - 438

JO - Child Psychiatry and Human Development

JF - Child Psychiatry and Human Development

IS - 3

ER -