Conduct Problems As a Pathway From Childhood Adversity to Community Violence Exposure: The Protective Roles of Caregiver Knowledge and Involvement

Meghan C Evans; Jacqueline B Duong; Nicholas M Morelli; Kajung Hong; Claire Voss; Lucybel Mendez; Jackelyne Garcia; Xavier Elzie; Miguel T Villodas

doi:10.1177/08862605221081932

Conduct Problems As a Pathway From Childhood Adversity to Community Violence Exposure: The Protective Roles of Caregiver Knowledge and Involvement

J Interpers Violence. 2023 Jan;38(1-2):NP698-NP725. doi: 10.1177/08862605221081932. Epub 2022 Mar 26.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Doctoral Program in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology, 8786UC, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
² Doctoral Program in Clinical Science in Child & Adolescent Psychology, 5450Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
³ San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, RinggoldID:464916San Diego State University/UC, San Diego, CA, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychology, 7117San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
⁵ Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
⁶ Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, San Diego, CA, USA.

PMID: 35343296
DOI: 10.1177/08862605221081932

Abstract

Exposure to community violence (ECV) poses a prevalent threat to the health and development of adolescents. Research indicates those who have more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are at higher risk for ECV, which further exacerbates risk of negative mental and physical health impacts. Additionally, those with more ACEs are more likely to exhibit conduct problems, which has also been linked to risk for ECV. Despite the prevalence and impact of ECV, there is limited longitudinal research on the risk factors that precede this exposure as well as family-level factors that may prevent it. The current study examined conduct problems as a potential mediator between ACEs and future indirect (i.e. witnessing) ECV in adolescents. Additionally, this study included caregiver factors, such as caregiver knowledge about their adolescent, caregiver involvement, and caregiver-adolescent relationship quality as potential protective moderators. Participants included (N = 1137) caregiver-adolescent dyads identified as at-risk for child maltreatment prior to child's age four for inclusion in the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN). Conduct problems at age 14 mediated the relationship between ACEs from ages 0-12 and indirect ECV at age 16 (standardized indirect effect = .03, p = .005). Caregiver knowledge moderated the indirect relationship (b = -.40, p = .030), and caregiver involvement moderated the direct relationship between ACEs and indirect ECV (b = -.03, p = .033). Findings expand our knowledge about the longitudinal pathways that increase risk of violence exposure over the course of adolescent development, as well as the protective benefits caregivers can offer to disrupt these pathways and reduce risk of future traumatization. Implications are discussed for interventions that aim to address and prevent trauma and adverse outcomes among youth exposed to child maltreatment, household dysfunction, and community violence.

Keywords: Family issues and mediators; child abuse; community violence; conduct problems; treatment/intervention; violence exposure; youth violence.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adverse Childhood Experiences*
Caregivers
Child
Child Abuse*
Child, Preschool
Exposure to Violence*
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Violence