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Goodman M, Theron L, McPherson H, Seidel S, Raimer-Goodman L, Munene K, Gatwiri C. Multisystemic factors predicting street migration of children in Kenya: A multilevel longitudinal study of families and villages. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2024; 154:106897. [PMID: 38870709 PMCID: PMC11316653 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Street-migration of children is a global problem with sparse multi-level or longitudinal data. Such data are required to inform robust street-migration prevention efforts. OBJECTIVE This study analyzes longitudinal cohort data to identify factors predicting street-migration of children - at caregiver- and village-levels. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Kenyan adult respondents (n = 575; 20 villages) actively participated in a community-based intervention, seeking to improve factors previously identified as contributing to street-migration by children. METHODS At two time points, respondents reported street-migration of children, and variables across economic, social, psychological, mental, parenting, and childhood experience domains. Primary study outcome was newly reported street-migration of children at T2 "incident street-migration", compared to households that reported no street-migration at T1 or T2. For caregiver-level analyses, we assessed bivariate significance between variables (T1) and incident street-migration. Variables with significant bivariate associations were included in a hierarchical logistical regression model. For community-level analyses, we calculated the average values of variables at the village-level, after excluding values from respondents who indicated an incident street-migration case to reduce potential outlier influence. We then compared variables between the 5 villages with the highest incidence to the 15 villages with fewer incident cases. RESULTS In regression analyses, caregiver childhood experiences, psychological factors and parenting behaviors predicted future street-migration. Lower village-aggregated depression and higher village-aggregated collective efficacy and social curiosity appeared significantly protective. CONCLUSIONS While parenting and economic strengthening approaches may be helpful, efforts to prevent street migration by children should also strengthen community-level mental health, collective efficacy, and communal harmony.
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Schweitzer S, Sonnentag TL. Role of the Sibling Relationship to Reduce the Negative Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on Wellbeing in Adulthood. J Genet Psychol 2024; 185:256-271. [PMID: 38059321 DOI: 10.1080/00221325.2023.2284900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, public health research has demonstrated that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are associated with significant and prolonged physical and mental health problems, demanding investigation into the factors that may mitigate the poor outcomes. One potential factor that may attenuate the negative impact of ACEs on individuals' health is social support. An important source of social support, both during and after adverse childhood experiences, is sibling relationships. Consequently, the purpose of the current study was to examine if two components of sibling relationships-perceived warmth and conflict-affect the relationship between ACEs and wellbeing in adulthood. A total of 439 participants (Mage = 35.06, SD = 11.19) completed self-report measures of their ACEs, their perceived warmth and conflict with a living sibling, and their wellbeing. Results revealed that sibling relationships characterized by higher perceived warmth-and, interestingly, higher perceived conflict-attenuated the negative impact of ACEs on wellbeing in adulthood. Findings from the current study provide valuable information about how psychologist, social workers, and other health professionals may use siblings as a source of social support to mitigate the negative effects of ACEs on wellbeing in adulthood.
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Goodman ML, Seidel SE, Springer A, Elliott A, Markham C, Serag H, Keiser P, Raimer B, Raimer-Goodman L, Gatwiri C, Munene K, Gitari S. Enabling structural resilience of street-involved children and youth in Kenya: reintegration outcomes and the Flourishing Community model. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1175593. [PMID: 37680240 PMCID: PMC10482225 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1175593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Millions of children and youth live on city streets across the globe, vulnerable to substance use, abuse, material and structural neglect. Structural resilience, the re-establishment of access to structural goods within a society such as housing, education, and healthcare following some interruption, provides an orientation for research and interventional efforts with street-involved children and youth (SICY). Further, a structural resilience framework supports organizing interactions between levels and sectors of a socio-ecology. Methods Following the expressed interests of Kenyan SICY, and consistent with emerging policy interests at national and global levels, we assess reintegration trajectories of Kenyan SICY (n = 227) participating in a new program intervention and model. The intervention combines two coordinated, parallel programs - one focused on the rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and resocialization of SICY, and the other focused on empowering families and communities to provide better care for children and youth who are reintegrating from life on the streets to the broader community. Data were collected and analyzed from multiple stages across SICY involvement with the intervention. Results We found 79% of SICY participants reintegrated with the broader community, and 50% reintegrated with families of origin and returned to school. Twenty-five percent of participants reintegrated to a boarding school, polytechnical school, or began a business. Probability of reintegrating successfully was significantly improved among participants whose families participated in the family- and community-oriented program, who were younger, with less street-exposure, expressed more personal interests, and desired to reintegrate with family. Discussion To our knowledge, these are the first quantitative data published of successful reintegration of SICY to the broader, non-institutionalized community in any low- or middle-income country. Future research should (1) identify factors across socio-ecological levels and sectors contributing to health and developmental outcomes of reintegrated children and youth, (2) mechanisms to support SICY for whom the interventional strategy did not work, (3) methods to prevent street-migration by children and youth, and (4) system development to coordinate follow-up and relevant investment by institutions, organizations and community leaders to continue reintegration work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L. Goodman
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Sodzo International, Houston, TX, United States
| | | | - Andrew Springer
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Aleisha Elliott
- Texas AHEC East, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Christine Markham
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Hani Serag
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Philip Keiser
- School of Public and Population Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Ben Raimer
- Office of the President, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Lauren Raimer-Goodman
- Community-based Clinics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
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Goodman M, Theron L, Seidel S, Elliott A, Raimer-Goodman L, Keiser P, Gitari S, Gatwiri C. Flourishing Communities: A new model to promote sustainable community leadership and transformation in semi-rural Kenya. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 33:756-772. [PMID: 37213894 PMCID: PMC10195071 DOI: 10.1002/casp.2665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Communities often face numerous challenges and opportunities - situations that may be reduced to specific domains by researchers, policy makers and interventionists. This study informs and animate a new "flourishing community" model that seeks to build collective capacity to respond to challenges and opportunities. Our work is a response to children living on the streets, whose families face myriad challenges. The Sustainable Development Goals make explicit the need for new, integrative models that acknowledge the interplay of challenges and opportunities within communities through the flow of everyday life. Flourishing communities are generative, supportive, resilient, compassionate, curious, responsive, self-determined, and build resources across economic, social, educational, and health domains. Integrating theoretical models - specifically, community-led development, multi-systemic resilience, and the "broaden and build" cycle of attachment - provide a testable framework to understand and explore hypothesized relationships between survey-collected, cross-sectional variables with 335 participants. Higher collective efficacy, a common byproduct of group-based microlending activities, was correlated with higher sociopolitical control. This correlation was mediated by higher positive emotion, meaning in life, spirituality, curiosity, and compassion. Further research is required to understand replicability, cross-sectoral impact, mechanisms of integrating health and development domains, and implementation challenges of the flourishing community model. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Philip Keiser
- University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, TX, USA
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Goodman ML, Temple JR, Elliott AJ, Seidel SE, Gitari S, Raimer-Goodman LA. Child maltreatment, social capital, maternal mental health and duration of program involvement: Assessment from a community-based empowerment program in Kenya. JOURNAL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE 2023; 38:407-417. [PMID: 37197413 PMCID: PMC10187605 DOI: 10.1007/s10896-022-00391-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Multisystem, multi-level interventions are required to enable resilient, nurturing environments for children facing adversity. This study assesses parenting behavior associated with participation in a community-based, adapted microfinance program, and mediated by program-affiliated social capital, maternal depression and self-esteem among Kenyan women. Participants in the intervention, Kuja Pamoja kwa Jamii (KPJ, Swahili for "Come Together to Belong"), gather weekly to engage in trainings and group-based microfinance. Groups selected for the study had participated in the program for 0-15 months at the time of the first interview. Women (n = 400) completed surveys in June 2018 and June 2019. Measures included duration of program exposure, group-affiliated social capital (i.e. trust, belonging, cohesion, and expectation of mutual benefit), depression, self-esteem, and conflict tactics. We used regression analyses and generalized structural equation models to explore associations between program exposure, social capital, psychosocial variables and child maltreatment. Each standard deviation increase in duration of program exposure decreased odds of child physical abuse by 40% and child neglect by 35%. Each standard deviation in the social capital index predicted a significant reduction in odds of child physical abuse (aOR: 0.67), and child neglect (aOR: 0.71). Self-esteem and depression fully mediated observed associations between social capital and child maltreatment. Findings recommend further investigation of the potential for adapted microfinance programs to deliver parenting interventions, improve mental health and foster resilience-enabling social capital. A randomized control trial is required to validate the potential of the assessed intervention to improve parenting behaviors and supportive social conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L. Goodman
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Sodzo International, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Aleisha J. Elliott
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Sodzo International, Houston, TX, USA
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Pace CS, Muzi S, Rogier G, Meinero LL, Marcenaro S. The Adverse Childhood Experiences - International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) in community samples around the world: A systematic review (part I). CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 129:105640. [PMID: 35662684 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) collects additional data (e.g., witness community violence/terrorism) than the previous version. Despite ACE-IQ is widely used and validated in several languages, no reviews focus on this measure. OBJECTIVE The main goals are to: 1) synthesize the ACE-IQ prevalence rates and average means among community samples, both for total ACE and single dimensions (e.g., intrafamily abuse, bullying); 2) discuss these data in light of the characteristics of studies and samples; 3) identify main research lines of the field. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING The search for studies using the ACE-IQ with community participants was conducted on seven academic databases, including retrieval of grey literature. The screening process led to include 63 documents. METHODS A systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines was performed. RESULTS 1) On average, 75% of community respondents experienced ACEs, with a mean of three, primarily emotional abuse and bullying. 2) Males experienced more ACEs, but they were underrepresented, as well as children and adolescents. Most studies were conducted in Asia or Africa, and different geographical areas showed different pathways of prevalence in subdimensions. 3) Most research focused on prevalence and relationships between ACE-IQ scores and respondents' mental and physical health, suicide and parenting, focusing on intrafamily ACEs more than on those outside the household. CONCLUSIONS Several issues emerged in terms of lack of reporting prevalence or means, lack of studies in Europe, America and Oceania, and no attention to collective/community/peer violence, plus a lack of consensus toward the dimensions of the ACE-IQ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Serena Pace
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Podestà 2, 16128 Genoa, Italy.
| | - Stefania Muzi
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Podestà 2, 16128 Genoa, Italy
| | - Guyonne Rogier
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Podestà 2, 16128 Genoa, Italy
| | - Lara Lia Meinero
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Podestà 2, 16128 Genoa, Italy
| | - Sara Marcenaro
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Podestà 2, 16128 Genoa, Italy
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Taylor C, Sotiropoulou Drosopoulou C, Rochus D, Marshall J. Street-connected children with communication disabilities and their caregivers in Western Kenya: experiences, beliefs and needs. Disabil Rehabil 2019; 43:2342-2352. [PMID: 31829046 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2019.1699174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Although street-connected children with communication disability have been identified in Western Kenya, little is currently known about the impact of communication disability on this group. In order to inform future service development, this qualitative study sought to understand the experiences, views and needs of street-connected children with communication disability, and of their caregivers at home and at school. MATERIALS AND METHODS 13 children, 12 caregivers and 12 school-based Learning Support Assistants participated in interactive sessions, semi-structured interviews and focus groups respectively. Interviews were translated, transcribed and analysed thematically, using framework analysis. RESULTS Six main themes, with sub-themes, were identified: understanding and awareness of communication disability; the role of others; needs of the children and what might help; impact on those supporting the children; caregiver and Learning Support Assistant needs: support to better help the child; thoughts about the future. Participants' responses highlighted the importance of improving others' attitudes, awareness and willingness to adapt their communication, as well as a need for trusted relationships and some specialist help. CONCLUSION Organisations working with street-connected children should take communication disability into account in their services and interventions. Input based on a social model of disability is likely to be acceptable.Implications for rehabilitationThe attitudes and behaviour of others affect how communication disability is experienced by street-connected children and their families.Intervention based on a social model of disability and aimed at improving the communication environment around the child is likely to be acceptable to children, caregivers and education support workers.Caregivers and education support workers want more training and support alongside specialist intervention.Communication at the level of the child is central to building trusted relationships, which are important to the success of street-connected children's rehabilitation and re-integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Taylor
- Health Professions Department, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | | | | | - Julie Marshall
- Health Professions Department, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.,University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
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Research performance and trends in child sexual abuse research: a Science Citation Index Expanded-based analysis. Scientometrics 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11192-019-03267-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Kidman R, Smith D, Piccolo LR, Kohler HP. Psychometric evaluation of the Adverse Childhood Experience International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) in Malawian adolescents. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2019; 92:139-145. [PMID: 30974257 PMCID: PMC6513701 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have lifelong adverse impacts on health and behavior. While this relationship has been extensively documented in high-income countries, evidence from lower-income contexts is largely missing. In order to stimulate greater research on the prevalence and consequences of ACEs in low-income countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the ACE-International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ). OBJECTIVE In this paper, we explore the factor structure, validity and reliability of the original ACE-IQ, and evaluate whether potential adaptations improve its predictive validity. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Four hundred and ten adolescents (age 10-16 years old) from Malawi. METHODS The adolescents answered an adapted version of ACE-IQ and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS Taken together, our results suggest that (a) the ACE-IQ is structured in three dimensions: household disruption, abuse, and neglect; (b) there is support for the validity of the scale evidenced by the correlation between subdimensions (average across 13 correlations, phi = .20, p < 0,01; across subdomains (phi = .10, p < 0,01); partial agreement among children with the same caregiver (ICC = .43, p < .001) and correlation between ACE and depression (predictive validity; r = .35, p < .001); (c) information on the timing of the adversities ("last year" in addition to "ever") modestly improved the predictive value of the ACE-IQ in models of depression (from R2 = .12 to .15, p < .001); and (d) additional HIV-related questions showed low endorsement and a modest correlation with BDI (r = .25, p < 0,01). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the ACE-IQ is appropriate for use among adolescents from a low-income context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Kidman
- Program in Public Health and Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, HSC Level 3, Stony Brook University (State University of New York), Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States.
| | - Dylan Smith
- Program in Public Health and Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, HSC Level 3, Stony Brook University (State University of New York), Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States
| | - Luciane R Piccolo
- Program in Public Health, HSC Level 3, Stony Brook University (State University of New York), Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States
| | - Hans-Peter Kohler
- Department of Sociology and Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania, 3718 Locust Walk (272 McNeil Building), Philadelphia, PA 19104-6298, United States
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Sitienei EC, Pillay J. Life Experiences of Children Living on Streets in Kenya: from the Pot into the Fire. JOURNAL OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT TRAUMA 2019; 12:201-209. [PMID: 32318192 PMCID: PMC7163865 DOI: 10.1007/s40653-018-0226-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This qualitative study explored life experiences of children living on the streets in Eldoret, Kenya. A total of 15 children (males = 60% and females = 40%; aged 6 to 18 years) took part in the study. The authors thematically analyzed data collected through individual interviews to explore life at their homes which resulted in them living on the streets and life on the streets itself. Implications are further discussed, and the authors propose that affirmative action is needed to strengthen families so that children could be rescued from the streets and be reintegrated into their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Chepngetich Sitienei
- Faculty of Education, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Education, Moi University, Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, PO Kenya
| | - Jace Pillay
- Faculty of Education, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Seidel S, Muciimi J, Chang J, Gitari S, Keiser P, Goodman ML. Community perceptions of home environments that lead children & youth to the street in semi-rural Kenya. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2018; 82:34-44. [PMID: 29852364 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Research with street-involved children and youth (SICY) in Sub-Saharan Africa over the past three decades has established a complex web of both micro and macro-level factors that simultaneously "push" and "pull" children and youth to the street. There is still little research with adult family and community members in communities from which SICY originate. Forty men and women from five semi-rural villages in Meru County, Kenya participated in a Rapid Rural Appraisal utilizing a fishbone diagram to explore main and underlying reasons for why children may be or may feel unwelcome in the home and thus migrate to the street. Responses were analyzed in terms of ecological levels, child or parent perspective, and the push/pull framework. Overall, community members identified families and households experiencing stress and lacking the necessary resources to successfully adjust and adapt. Four ecological levels of influence were proposed as main reasons, with parent and caregiver factors mentioned most often, followed by household factors, children's intrapersonal factors, and interpersonal (family) factors. Community and environmental level factors were also proposed as underlying factors. Analysis by gender revealed that both men and women emphasized push factors over pull factors, though men proposed more pull factors (from peers and street life) than women did. Men placed more responsibility on the children than women did, citing children's negative behaviors, dissatisfaction with home, and a desire for independence and work/income. Women, in contrast, emphasized children's feelings of being unloved and the experience of harsh punishment or abuse from caregivers. Findings suggest that interventions to reduce street involvement should support economically, medically, and psychologically vulnerable families and households through comprehensive family strengthening programs that build financial capacity, improve parenting and communication skills, and promote education over child work and labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Seidel
- University of Texas School of Public Health, Austin, TX 78701, United States; Sodzo International, OVC Research Division, 4100 South Main, Houston, TX 77002, United States.
| | | | - James Chang
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77551, United States
| | | | - Philip Keiser
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77551, United States
| | - Michael L Goodman
- Sodzo International, OVC Research Division, 4100 South Main, Houston, TX 77002, United States; University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77551, United States
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Meinck F, Cosma AP, Mikton C, Baban A. Psychometric properties of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Abuse Short Form (ACE-ASF) among Romanian high school students. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2017; 72:326-337. [PMID: 28869880 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Child abuse is a major public health problem. In order to establish the prevalence of abuse exposure among children, measures need to be age-appropriate, sensitive, reliable and valid. This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire Abuse Short Form (ACE-ASF). The ACE-ASF is an 8-item, retrospective self-report questionnaire measuring lifetime physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Data from a nationally representative sample of 15-year-old, school-going adolescents (n=1733, 55.5% female) from the Romanian Health Behavior in School-Based Children Study 2014 (HBSC) were analyzed. The factorial structure of the ACE-ASF was tested with Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and confirmed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Measurement invariance was examined across sex, and internal reliability and concurrent criterion validity were established. Violence exposure was high: 39.7% physical, 32.2% emotional and 13.1% sexual abuse. EFA established a two-factor structure: physical/emotional abuse and sexual abuse. CFA confirmed this model fitted the data well [χ2(df)=60.526(19); RMSEA=0.036; CFI/TLI=0.990/0.986]. Metric invariance was supported across sexes. Internal consistency was good (0.83) for the sexual abuse scale and poor (0.57) for the physical/emotional abuse scale. Concurrent criterion validity confirmed hypothesized relationships between childhood abuse and health-related quality of life, life satisfaction, self-perceived health, bullying victimization and perpetration, externalizing and internalizing behaviors, and multiple health complaints. Results support the ACE-ASF as a valid measure of physical, emotional and sexual abuse in school-aged adolescents. However, the ACE-ASF combines spanking with other types of physical abuse when this should be assessed separately instead. Future research is needed to replicate findings in different youth populations and across age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Meinck
- Centre for Evidence-Based Intervention, Department of Social Policy & Intervention, University of Oxford Barnett House, 32 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2ER, United Kingdom; OPTENTIA, School of Behavioural Sciences, North-West University, 1174 Hendrick Van Eck Boulevard, 1900 Vanderbeijlpark, South Africa.
| | - Alina Paula Cosma
- School of Medicine, University of St. Andrews, Medical & Biological Sciences, North Hough, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TF, United Kingdom.
| | - Christopher Mikton
- Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Stapleton, Bristol, BS16 1DD, United Kingdom.
| | - Adriana Baban
- Department of Psychology, Babes Bolyai University, 37 Republicii, 400015 Cluj Napoca, Romania.
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