Buchanan GJR, Tate AD, Barnes A, Trofholz AC, Berge JM. Potential Points of Intervention to Minimize the Impact of Parents' Adverse Childhood Experiences on Child Mental Health.
J Dev Behav Pediatr 2023;
44:e24-e31. [PMID:
36563343 PMCID:
PMC9793946 DOI:
10.1097/dbp.0000000000001140]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Children of parents who experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are at elevated risk for mental health (MH) issues. The goal of this study was to explore the relationships between parent ACEs and child MH and to identify potential mediators and points of psychosocial intervention.
METHODS
Participants were 1307 children aged 5 to 9 years from diverse backgrounds and their primary caregivers. Using cross-sectional questionnaire data, we used structural equation modeling to examine the research questions.
RESULTS
Parent ACEs were directly related to child MH issues (β = 0.189, p < 0.001). This relationship was fully mediated by parent MH (β = 0.374, p < 0.001; β = 0.246, p < 0.001) and positive parenting behaviors (β = -0.237, p < 0.001; β = -0.556, p < 0.001). High parent ACEs were negatively associated with parent MH (β = 0.374, p < 0.001), which was then negatively associated with parenting behaviors (β = -0.500, p < 0.001), which was then negatively associated with child MH (β = -0.600, p < 0.001). Parent MH maintained a significant, though attenuated, direct relationship with child MH (β = 0.102, p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Parents with high ACEs but who have good mental health and positive parenting behaviors demonstrated no impact of their ACEs on their children's mental health. Providing MH care to parents and parenting programs may be strategies for improving children's MH. Parenting behavior assessment is recommended for clinicians when pediatric patients present with MH concerns.
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