NCJ Number
199124
Journal
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 32 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2003 Pages: 89-103
Editor(s)
Daniel Offer
Date Published
April 2003
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study examined the impact of cumulative childhood adversity and identified mechanisms by which such adversity affected psychological distress among young adults.
Abstract
While researchers have provided evidence that recent stressors in adulthood and single traumatic events in childhood predict psychological disorder, few have examined the cumulative impact of childhood adversity on later well-being. This study hypothesized that cumulative adversity in childhood and adolescence reduces mastery by providing children with evidence that they cannot change the difficult and damaging conditions of their lives. The study was based on a sample of 649 individuals attending 1 of 3 colleges in New England. The majority of the sample was obtained through random samples of student registration directories. The study supported the assumption that much of the association between early adversity in childhood and symptoms of depression in young adulthood could be explained by mediating factors. In addition, associations were documented between social status and childhood adversity. The findings suggest the special relevance of recent and ongoing stressors as mediators between childhood adversity and depressive symptoms in young adulthood. Future research would benefit from even greater specification of the linkages and the identification of protective factors that can alter trajectories of risk. Appendix and references