Adversity and resilience science最新文献

Breastfeeding supports positive maternal and infant outcomes, yet mothers who have opioid use disorder (OUD) experience unique challenges that affect breastfeeding decisions. We assessed breastfeeding intentions and experiences of mothers with OUD (N = 50) via in-depth interviews (within one-week of birth through 18 months postpartum). Most mothers had prenatal intentions to breastfeed (82.0%), which was associated with breastfeeding initiation (76.0%), and less strained relationships with their biological mother and less fear during pregnancy. The birth experience impacted mothers’ execution of their intentions to initiate breastfeeding, including the circumstances of labor and delivery, treatment by staff, and involvement with child protective services. Interpersonal relationships, stigma, and self-efficacy were related to breastfeeding continuation (M length = 2.28 months, SD = 1.8). Breastfeeding experiences were largely impacted by experiences during pregnancy and birth, offering two critical windows for intervention through destigmatizing OUD in health care settings, strengthening self-efficacy, and enhancing social support.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been associated with higher levels of adult loneliness. Less is known about the relationship between Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) and adult loneliness, and the potential for PCEs to buffer the negative effects of ACEs. We assessed whether PCEs explained additional variance in adult men’s and women’s loneliness after controlling for ACEs, and whether PCEs moderated the association between ACEs and loneliness. A sample of 872 participants (70.4% women, 29.6% men) was recruited and, after providing informed consent, completed online versions of the Childhood Experiences Scale-17, the Benevolent Childhood Experiences Scale, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. We tested a model examining whether loneliness was associated with maltreatment, threat, and deprivation (ACEs), PCEs, gender, and interactions between these variables. Although ACEs were initially, and positively, correlated with loneliness in both men and women, this association became non-significant when PCEs and other variables were added to the model. PCEs were significantly, and negatively, associated with adult loneliness. Further, none of the interactions achieved statistical significance. Our findings suggest that PCEs are strongly, and negatively, associated with adult loneliness scores – even more so than ACEs. Thus, researchers may benefit from placing greater emphasis on how early experiences of benevolence help protect against loneliness.

This study critically examines how conflict-induced violence affects school-aged children and their psychological coping mechanisms in three conflict-prone districts in the northern part of Ghana: Bawku Municipality, Chereponi District, and Saboba District. Among the targeted sample of 212 primary and junior high school students who were randomly selected from 12 schools, 51 participants voluntarily participated in the administered survey questionnaires. Both fixed-response and one open-ended question were utilized in the study. Findings revealed that children exposed to explosive violence experienced severe psychological distress, including trauma from the loss of loved ones, disrupted schooling, and limited access to coping resources. The researchers recommend that further research should be conducted on how to develop and evaluate intervention programs that are tailored to support children exposed to violence that can mitigate the adverse effects on mental health and educational outcomes.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine links between family trauma and daily stress and mental and physical health among emerging adults (EA), and whether these links were moderated by friend-EA relationship quality and best friend risky behavior. The sample consisted of 1,163 college women who completed online anonymous surveys. Findings indicated that high levels of family trauma and daily stress were significantly related to high levels of EA physical health problems, risky behavior, and internalizing symptoms. Results also indicated that the link between family trauma and risky behavior was attenuated under low levels of best friend risky behavior. The moderation analyses also demonstrated that the links between adversity and EA health problems, risky behavior, and internalizing symptoms were positive, significant, and magnified under high levels best friend-EA relationship quality among youth reporting high levels of best friend risky behavior. The role of friends in fostering resilience among at-risk college women and how this may vary by characteristics of the friends and friendships were discussed.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a risk factor for negative parenting and children’s behavior problems. The present study examined the effects of the ACT-Raising Safe Kids Program on mothers’ parental practices and sense of competence, as well as children’s behaviors, comparing mothers with and without ACEs at different levels. The sample comprised 88 mothers with their 1–6-year-old children, divided into 3 groups: mothers with 4 or more ACEs (ACE^≥4 Group, n = 31), mothers with fewer than four ACEs (ACE^<4 Group, n = 37), and mothers without ACEs (No-ACE Group, n = 20). The mothers participated in the intervention, which utilized the ACT Program (delivered in either in-person or online versions). Mothers completed the ACT, Parenting and Family Adjustment Scale, Parental Sense of Competence, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at both the pre- and post-intervention stages. The three-way ANOVA for repeated measures was performed, controlled by socioeconomic status and maternal current depression symptoms. Regardless of the ACEs, the ACT Program showed positive effects on improving emotional and behavioral regulation, parent–child relationships, and parental sense of competence, as well as reducing coercive practices, in the post-intervention period compared to the pre-intervention period. Also, all mothers reported a reduction in children’s behavior problems, and, exclusively, mothers with ACEs mentioned an increase in prosocial behavior. Then, there were positive effects of the ACT Program on positive parenting and preventing violence against children, even among mothers with ACEs. The practical implication of the findings for prevention strategies is discussed.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on university students, disrupting their educational experiences and causing widespread mental health challenges. This study sought to identify how the pandemic both positively and negatively impacted students’ academic experiences at the point in which the U.S. government officially ended the pandemic. A sample of 171 university students, primarily from a large institution in the Mountain West region, participated in the study. Qualitative analysis of their responses revealed several key themes. On the positive side, students reported improvements in technological proficiency, adaptation to virtual learning, enhanced self-efficacy and autonomy, and development of professional communication skills. These findings suggest that the pandemic provided opportunities for students to develop valuable skills and insights that could benefit them academically and professionally. Prior studies focused primarily on the negative impacts of the pandemic. This study too uncovered substantial negative impacts, including educational disruption and challenges with online learning, physical and emotional health decline, social isolation, and difficulties adapting to new norms and recovering from setbacks. These findings highlight the significant toll the pandemic has taken on students’ well-being and academic progress. The contradictory impacts observed in this study underscore the nuanced experiences of students during the pandemic. While some thrived in the flexible, self-directed learning environment, exhibiting resiliency, others faced considerable challenges that impeded their development.

Resilience research primarily focuses on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and how individuals respond to them. Less attention is directed towards understanding positive experiences during childhood and their significance, including among marginalized and understudied populations. The current phenomenological qualitative study examined self-reported high point experiences (HPEs) and perceived meaning of the events among young people living in rural Appalachia. Narrative stories were collected from 71 individuals, aged 12–24, who participated in a study on resilience and psychosocial strengths. Participants described a HPE in their life, reasons why the story was positive, and what it revealed about them as a person. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded using ATLAS.ti software. Coded data were analyzed to identify patterns and themes across participants. Self-reported HPEs included spending time with family, spending time in meaningful locations, participating in extracurricular activities, earning personal achievements, achieving life milestones or transitions, and receiving gifts. Participants viewed HPEs positively because they involved family being together, were linked to adversity, promoted the development of strengths, or resulted in personal achievements. Most participants reflected that their HPEs revealed their personal values. Findings highlighted a need to expand the conceptualization and measurement of positive childhood experiences (PCEs) to include more experiential and achievement-oriented experiences that are viewed positively among young people. An increased emphasis on HPEs and PCEs, rather than on ACEs, may help reduce stigma and empower families and communities to actively promote the health and well-being of young people in rural areas.

This study examines the moderating role of friendship quality (FQ) in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and self-compassion among Chinese undergraduates. ACEs are known to contribute to long-term emotional and psychological challenges, including diminished self-compassion. Self-compassion, which involves treating oneself with kindness and understanding during times of difficulty, is often undermined in individuals exposed to significant childhood adversity. This study posits that high-quality friendships may buffer the negative impact of ACEs on self-compassion. Data were collected from a sample of 24,445 undergraduate students in Yunnan Province, China. Participants completed validated assessments measuring their experiences of ACEs, levels of self-compassion, and the quality of their friendships. The results revealed a significant negative correlation between ACEs and self-compassion, aligning with the hypothesis that higher exposure to childhood adversity is associated with lower levels of self-compassion. Notably, the study found that FQ significantly moderated this relationship. Higher FQ mitigates the negative impact of ACEs on self-compassion. These findings highlight the potential for interventions focused on enhancing FQ to support undergraduates who have experienced childhood adversity, ultimately fostering self-compassion and better mental health outcomes.