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Purpose While Emerging Adults (EAs) report the highest rates of psychopathology, age-related barriers to access and use of mental health resources (MHR) leave many EAs to struggle. Contextualized within the COVID-19 pandemic, the present study explores factors related to EAs' perceptions of access, use, and sufficiency of MHR. Method Four hundred twenty-three EAs enrolled in post-secondary education at the onset of the pandemic were recruited for an online survey. An age-related COVID questionnaire and multiple empirically validated measures were used to assess mental health status and MHR use throughout the pandemic. Results Those who reported Reduced or Eliminated Access to MHR during the pandemic were likely to have experienced at least one Change in Residence. Reduced or Eliminated Access to MHR and higher levels of depression accounted for the greatest variance in MHR Sufficiency. Conclusion This study underscores the importance of efforts to expand access to MHR amongst EAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to examine the co-occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dissociation in a clinical sample of trauma-exposed adolescents by evaluating evidence for the depersonalization/derealization dissociative subtype of PTSD as defined by the DSM-5 and then examining a broader set of dissociation symptoms.MethodA sample of treatment-seeking, trauma-exposed adolescents 12 to 16 years old (N = 3,081) from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Core Data Set was used to meet the study objectives. Two models of PTSD/dissociation co-occurrence were estimated using latent class analysis, one with 2 dissociation symptoms and the other with 10 dissociation symptoms. After model selection, groups within each model were compared on demographics, trauma characteristics, and psychopathology.ResultsModel A, the depersonalization/derealization model, had 5 classes: dissociative subtype/high PTSD; high PTSD; anxious arousal; dysphoric arousal; and a low symptom/reference class. Model B, the expanded dissociation model, identified an additional class characterized by dissociative amnesia and detached arousal.ConclusionThese 2 models provide new information about the specific ways PTSD and dissociation co-occur and illuminate some differences between adult and adolescent trauma symptom expression. A dissociative subtype of PTSD can be distinguished from PTSD alone in adolescents, but assessing a wider range of dissociative symptoms is needed to fully characterize adolescent traumatic stress responses.

In recent years, researchers have focused on acquiring a better understanding of the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children under the age of six following exposure to chronic trauma, such as intimate partner violence (IPV). Despite a number of empirical studies on early childhood PTSD, few have examined how children differ in the clinical presentation of PTSD symptomatology. There may be wide variability in the presentation of symptoms within the four clusters of PTSD symptoms: re-experiencing, alterations in physiological arousal, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, and avoidance. Symptoms of physiological arousal may be particularly difficult for parents and therapists to identify and report on because many of these symptoms are internal sensations (e.g. racing heart beat), and they are most often evaluated out of context (e.g. in reports of past behaviour). Thus, little is known about the presentation of these symptoms in preschoolers. To better identify physiological arousal symptoms as they occur, this study examined therapists' qualitative reports on the presentation of physiological symptoms of 56 young children exposed to IPV while they participated in an intervention programme. Results indicated that children were most likely to exhibit emotion dysregulation, behavioural outbursts, mood swings and temper tantrums when physiologically aroused. The presence of temper tantrums as a component of arousal and reactivity is consistent with recent "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (fifth edition) changes, which include these elements as new criteria for PTSD in children aged six and younger. Behavioural examples are described and implications discussed for clinical intervention.

Assessment, diagnosis and treatment of preschoolers with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an understudied domain, and translational research assisting practitioners in the real-life identification of PTSD symptoms is critical. The current study examined therapists' behavioural notes of 56 children participating in a 10-session intervention following exposure to intimate partner violence. The notes were analysed to identify themes in children's expression of re-experiencing symptoms and examine the overlap of these symptoms with emotional and behavioural dysregulation. The majority of re-experiencing in the therapeutic context was verbally expressed (e.g. storytelling), but physical re-enactments had the most overlap with in-session emotional and behavioural dysregulation. Session content that addressed who is to blame for the violence, characteristics about families, and conflict resolution techniques elicited particularly high levels of re-experiencing symptoms. The findings indicate that re-experiencing symptoms are both evident and recognisable in the therapeutic context, and practitioners should be careful not to misdiagnose children with behaviour disorders when dysregulation is explained by the presence of re-experiencing symptoms. Potential safety mechanisms that can be put in place to support young children during "high triggering" sessions are also considered.

Although intimate partner violence (IPV) is a particularly prevalent public health concern among Latina populations, the evidence-based treatment options for Latinas who experience IPV are limited. The present study tested the efficacy of the Moms' Empowerment Program (MEP), an intervention for Spanish-speaking Latina mothers who had recently experienced IPV. Participants (N = 95) were assigned to a Treatment (n = 55) or a waitlist Control (n = 40) condition, and those in the Treatment group completed a 10-week intervention designed to address the problems associated with IPV. Intent-to-treat analyses using multiple regression revealed that Latinas' participation in the MEP was associated with reductions in IPV exposure. These findings provide preliminary evidence that the MEP may reduce exposure to physical violence among Spanish-speaking Latinas., Author(s): Hannah M. Clark [sup.1] , Andrew Grogan-Kaylor [sup.2] , Maria M. Galano [sup.1] , Sara F. Stein [sup.1] , Nora Montalvo-Liendo [sup.3] , Sandra Graham-Bermann [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (Aff1) [...]

The Brother-Sister Questionnaire (BSQ; Graham-Bermann and Cutler 1994 (See CR15)) is an instrument designed to measure qualities of sibling relationships. Aim: In the present study the main objective was to examine the psychometric properties and validity construct of BSQ - Portuguese version. Data were collected among 197 adolescents. The Cronbach's alpha of the four domains ranged from .58 to .84. The psychometric characteristics of BSQ Portuguese version were found to be adequate. The results confirm the multi-dimensional model composed of four factors proposed by the authors of this instrument, as well as their suitability to assess quality of Portuguese sibling relationships. The BSQ offers a reliable and valid measure to be used within Portuguese population., Author(s): Inês Carvalho Relva [sup.1] [sup.3] , Otília Monteiro Fernandes [sup.1] , Madalena Alarcão [sup.2] [sup.3] , Sandra Graham-Bermann [sup.4] , Patrícia Lopes [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) 0000000121821287grid.12341.35Department of Education [...]

This study examined patterns of intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure and three domains of competence among 288 children recruited from community-based domestic violence agencies. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed to identify subgroups of children who differed based on levels of social, academic, and extracurricular competence and exposure to IPV. Five distinct latent profiles were identified: Frequent IPV Exposure-Low Activity Competence (39 % of children), Frequent IPV Exposure-Average Global Competence (31 % of children), Frequent IPV Exposure-High Global Competence (13 % of children), Low IPV Exposure-Compromised School Competence (11 % of children), and Low IPV Exposure-Compromised Global Competence (6 % of children). Covariates distinguished between the profiles (e.g., yearly household income, maternal education, number of children in the household) and the groups were characterized by statistically significant mean differences in total behavior problems. Implications for future research and community-based preventive intervention efforts are discussed., Author(s): Shelby Elaine McDonald[sup.1] , Rosalie Corona[sup.2] , Anna Maternick[sup.1] , Frank R. Ascione[sup.3] , James Herbert Williams[sup.3] , Sandra A. Graham-Bermann[sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) School of Social Work, Academic [...]

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious problem for children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV). Recent changes to diagnostic criteria for PTSD include a reduction in avoidance symptom criteria from three to one and the separation of emotional numbing from avoidance symptoms, thus creating a need to better understand how avoidance symptoms of PTSD present themselves in young children. This study evaluated 56 children aged four to six as they participated in an intervention for mothers and children exposed to IPV. Therapists documented behaviours indicative of avoidance symptoms during group sessions. Data were analysed and coded into symptom categories and thematically emergent domains. Results demonstrated that avoidance symptoms fell into three separate categories: physical avoidance, emotional avoidance, and changing topics. Additionally, the data support the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (5th edition) change to remove emotional numbing from the avoidance symptom category. These results give insight into how to develop more targeted treatments for PTSD as well as improve the assessment and diagnosis of PTSD symptoms in preschoolers.

Childhood exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) can have lasting effects on well-being. Children also display resilience following IPV exposure. Yet, little research has prospectively followed changes in both maladaptive and adaptive outcomes in children who experience IPV in early life. The goal of the current study was to investigate how child factors (irritability), trauma history (severity of IPV exposure), maternal factors (mental health, parenting), and early intervention relate to trajectories of behavior problems (internalizing and externalizing problems) and resilience (prosocial behavior, emotion regulation), over 8 years. One hundred twenty mother-child dyads participated in a community-based randomized controlled trial of an intervention for IPV-exposed children and their mothers. Families completed follow-up assessments 6–8 months (N = 71) and 6–8 years (N = 68) later. Although intention-to-treat analyses did not reveal significant intervention effects, per-protocol analyses suggested that participants receiving an effective dose (eight sessions) of the treatment had fewer internalizing problems over time. Child irritability and maternal parenting were associated with both behavior problems and resilience. Maternal mental health was uniquely associated with child behavior problems, whereas maternal positive parenting was uniquely associated with child resilience. Results support the need for a dyadic perspective on child adjustment following IPV exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bullying involves aggression that is proactive, intentional, and repeated in a relationship with unequal power. We assessed the association of recent bullying victimization with family processes during childhood using standardized measures in a sample of 1008 young adults attending 10 Ukrainian universities in Ukraine. Structural equation modeling was utilized to examine the associations between family communication and satisfaction, childhood corporal punishment and abuse, and adulthood bullying victimization. The majority of participants had been bullied by a peer or teacher (62.38%) and had a history of corporal punishment (63.46%). There were direct effects of child abuse and corporal punishment and family communication style on bullying victimization during young adulthood. The extent of satisfaction with students' families of origin showed indirect effects. The results highlight the present needs of many students, as well as the risk factors associated with bullying victimization during their post-secondary education years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Living in a home where violence is present places young children at great risk for developing emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and health problems. While many studies have examined direct relationships between violence exposure and adjustment, fewer have considered how children's mental health problems may interact over time. The primary aim of the current study is to more fully explicate the complex relationships between children's mental health difficulties following exposure to violence. Methods: The current study examines 120 preschool-aged children who had been exposed to intimate partner violence in the past 2 years. Results: Results show that the relationship between violence exposure and adjustment problems was mediated by children's posttraumatic stress symptoms related to witnessing the violence. Posttraumatic stress symptoms fully mediated the relationship between violence and Internalizing behavior and total adjustment problems, and partially mediated the relationship between violence and Externalizing behavior problems. Conclusions: This indicates that posttraumatic stress and behavioral adjustment are related but distinct reactions following exposure to violence. Clinically, a thorough assessment of posttraumatic stress symptoms is recommended for this population, as these symptoms require specific intervention techniques that may otherwise be overlooked in the course of therapy. (Contains 1 table.)

Factors that may contribute to preschool-aged children's appraisals of their parent's violent conflicts in families experiencing recent intimate partner violence (IPV) were evaluated for 116 mother-child dyads. Mothers and children were interviewed using empirically-validated measures to assess level of violence, maternal and child mental health, and children's appraisals of conflict. Results suggest that preschool-aged children are able to meaningfully respond to statements about their parents' conflicts. Both mothers' and children's reports of violence were significantly associated with children's appraisals of Threat, but not with appraisals of Self-blame. Girls reported significantly higher levels of Self-blame than did boys. Children's cognitive appraisals of Threat and Self-blame did not vary by age or ethnicity. These findings suggest that interventions designed for young children might specifically target their cognitive appraisals to help them regulate their feelings of being threatened and to provide for their safety. (Contains 2 tables.)

Relatively little is known about the associations between childhood exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and adulthood mental health problems. This study used 2,500 Swedish young adults' retrospective self-reports to determine the prevalence of childhood exposure to IPV and examine the relationships between such exposure and gender, age of exposure and adult mental health problems. Twenty-eight percent of participants reported any childhood exposure to IPV. Exposure was more common among women, who were also younger at first exposure and exposed to more severe violence than men. Both exposure and severity of IPV were related to all mental health problems examined. The interaction of IPV exposure and gender, while significant, explained relatively little of the variance in mental health problems., Author(s): Åsa K. Cater[sup.1] , Laura E. Miller[sup.2] , Kathryn H. Howell[sup.3] , Sandra A. Graham-Bermann[sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) School of Law, Psychology and Social work, Örebro University, 701 82, [...]

The association between trauma exposure and mental health-related challenges such as depression are well documented in the research literature. The assumptive world theory was used to explore this relationship in 97 female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Participants completed self-report questionnaires that assessed trauma history, world assumptions, and depression severity. Regression analyses revealed that diminished world assumptions mediate the relationship between trauma exposure and depression severity. As predicted, this relationship held for interpersonal forms of trauma, whereas noninterpersonal forms of trauma were related neither to diminished world assumption nor to depression severity. This suggests that our conceptual system of relating to the world, our core beliefs that comprise our assumptive world, may be challenged in the face of human-induced trauma, increasing our risk for developing adverse psychological outcomes such as depression. (Contains 4 tables.)

Children aged 6 to 12 who were exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) within the last year participated in an intervention program found to be successful in reducing their internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. However, little is known about factors that may contribute to this efficacy. Both fixed and modifiable risk factors that predicted change in children's adjustment after the intervention were identified and tested. There was a significant relationship between the extent of exposure to IPV, gender, change in mothers' mental health, and change in child adjustment. Among fixed factors, length of exposure to violence was found to moderate the relationship between the amount of the child's and mother's participation in the intervention and change in child adjustment, specifically internalizing behavioral problems. Among the modifiable risk factors, change in mother's mental health, specifically symptoms of posttraumatic stress, was found to mediate the relationship between the amount of intervention participation and change in child adjustment. These findings can be used to inform and enhance evidence-based clinical services for children exposed to IPV. (Contains 5 tables.)

Research has established that childhood violence exposure plays a considerable role in the development of deleterious outcomes in childhood and adulthood. However, important gaps remain in understanding the complex relationships between early violence exposure, adulthood trauma exposure, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study investigates whether two specific types of childhood violence exposure (witnessing domestic violence and experiencing child abuse) are uniquely associated with PTSD while controlling for additional trauma experience. In a community sample of pregnant women, this study finds that childhood abuse only and combined exposure to abuse and witnessing abuse correlated to current and lifetime PTSD diagnoses, but witnessing alone did not. In addition, adult nonviolence trauma histories account for more variance in PTSD than did any early violence exposure type. (Contains 3 tables.)

Trauma theory suggests that to recover from exposure to traumatic events, such as exposure to violence, therapeutic interventions should include opportunities to disclose and to process the fearful and stressful events. Yet little is known about the circumstances that foster disclosure of such information in therapeutic environments by children and related mental health outcomes for those children. In this study, the process of disclosure was examined among children ages 6 to 12 years (N = 121) in a community-based intervention program for children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV). Therapists documented children's spontaneous disclosure in their group. Mothers and children completed demographic and standardized attitudinal and mental health questionnaires. Fifty-two percent of children spontaneously disclosed during therapy. Child ethnicity, harm to the child, internalizing behavioral adjustment problems, and engagement in therapy predicted disclosure. Disclosure within the group was associated with gains for individual children in internalizing behavioral adjustment problems and improvement in attitudes and beliefs concerning the acceptability of violence. (Contains 3 tables.)

Objective: To evaluate the social and emotional adjustment of 219 children in families with varying levels of intimate partner violence (IPV) using a model of risk and protection. To explore factors that differentiate children with poor adjustment from those with resilience. Methodology: Mothers who experienced IPV in the past year and their children ages 6-12 were interviewed. Standardized measures assessed family violence, parenting, family functioning, maternal mental health, and children's adjustment and beliefs. Results: Using cluster analysis, all cases with valid data on the Child Behavior Checklist, Child Depression Inventory, General Self-Worth and Social Self-Competence measures were described by four profiles of children's adjustment: Severe Adjustment Problems (24%); children who were Struggling (45%); those with Depression Only (11%); and Resilient (20%) with high competence and low adjustment problems. Multinomial logistic regression analyses showed children in the Severe Problems cluster witnessed more family violence and had mothers higher in depression and trauma symptoms than other children. Resilient and Struggling children had mothers with better parenting, more family strengths and no past violent partner. Parents of children with Severe Problems were lacking these attributes. The Depressed profile children witnessed less violence but had greater fears and worries about mother's safety. Conclusion: Factors related to the child, to the mother and to the family distinguish different profiles of adjustment for children exposed to IPV who are living in the community. Resilient children have less violence exposure, fewer fears and worries, and mothers with better mental health and parenting skills, suggesting avenues for intervention with this population. Practice implications: Findings suggest that child adjustment is largely influenced by parent functioning. Thus, services should be targeted at both the child and the parent. Clinical interventions shaped to the unique needs of the child might also be tested with this population. (Contains 4 tables.)

The present study uses a feminist theoretical framework to explore risk factors for the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms following intimate partner violence, with a community sample of 120 low-income European American and African American women. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to examine demographic, violence, and mental health variables that predict posttraumatic stress symptoms. The data reveal that African American women report lower levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms than do their European American peers. This difference was observed despite the presence of more empirically identified risk factors for African American women. Regression analyses show that symptoms of depression increase risk for posttraumatic stress for both groups. However, a difference was observed such that past victimization increase risk for only European American women, whereas amount of psychological violence in the previous year increases risk for only African American women. Potential explanations for observed ethnic differences are offered. (Contains 3 tables.)

A community-based intervention program was tested with 181 children ages 6-12 and their mothers exposed to intimate partner violence during the past year. A sequential assignment procedure allocated participants to 3 conditions: child-only intervention, child-plus-mother intervention (CM), and a wait-list comparison. A 2-level hierarchical linear model consisting of repeated observations within individuals and individuals assigned to conditions was used to evaluate the effects of time from baseline to post-intervention comparing the 3 conditions and from post-intervention to 8-month follow-up for both intervention conditions. Outcomes were individual children's externalizing and internalizing behavior problems and attitudes about violence. Of the 3 conditions, CM children showed the greatest improvement over time in externalizing problems and attitudes about violence. There were 79% fewer children with clinical range externalizing scores and 77% fewer children with clinical range internalizing scores from baseline to follow-up for CM children.

In this study we examined the relationships among partner abuse, work quality, and women's sense of self. In particular, we explored the potential for women's work to serve as an alternative source of feedback for the self in the context of partner abuse. The sample consisted of 100 working women who reported experiencing a range of partner abuse. Relationships among partner abuse, work quality, and three self constructs were tested using multivariate multiple regression. Work quality was significantly and positively associated with self at work and general self-esteem and approached significance for self at home. There were no significant associations between partner abuse and self at work. Partner abuse was negatively and significantly associated with self at home and approached significance for self-esteem. These varied results support the importance of assessing multiple aspects of the self and the potential of women's work to be a resource in the context of partner abuse.