Background

Previous research suggests a dose-response relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adult depression. Both constructs are also known correlates of child maltreatment risk.

Objectives

This study examines the relationship between a cumulative count of ACEs and adult depressive symptoms in a sample of families at risk for child maltreatment. The study also aims to determine if a new childhood caregiving environment (CCE) scale predicts adult depressive symptoms as well as or better than the traditional ACE score in this high-risk population, and whether it holds potential as a service needs assessment tool for the child maltreatment prevention field.

Participants and setting

Baseline survey data from a randomized control trial testing a child maltreatment prevention program in Milwaukee, Wisconsin were used. The sample (n = 618) included caregivers reported to and investigated by child protective services (CPS) for allegations of abuse or neglect.

Methods

Ordinary least squares regression was used to look at the relationship between the number of ACEs, scores on the CCE scale, and adult depressive symptoms. Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine the CCE scale items in comparison to ACEs.

Results

A high ACE score was associated with more depressive symptomatology (B = 0.82, p < 0.001). Conversely, adults with higher scores on the CCE scale had fewer depressive symptoms (B = −0.30, p < 0.001). There was also preliminary evidence that the CCE scale may tap into similar underlying constructs as ACEs.

Conclusions

Given that the CCE measure favors strengths-oriented question items, it may be a promising alternative to the risk-oriented ACE score in assessing parental childhood adversities known to be associated with the maltreatment of one's own children, and as an approach for identifying service needs related to childhood trauma in a maltreatment prevention context.

中文翻译：

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探索童年逆境与成人抑郁之间的关系：风险与优势导向的方法

背景

先前的研究表明，不良童年经历 (ACE) 与成人抑郁症之间存在剂量反应关系。这两种结构也是已知的虐待儿童风险的相关因素。

目标

本研究在一个有虐待儿童风险的家庭样本中检查了 ACE 的累积计数与成人抑郁症状之间的关系。该研究还旨在确定新的儿童看护环境 (CCE) 量表在预测成人抑郁症状方面是否与传统的高危人群 ACE 评分一样或更好，以及它是否具有作为儿童护理需求评估工具的潜力。虐待儿童预防领域。

参与者和设置

使用来自威斯康星州密尔沃基的一项测试儿童虐待预防计划的随机对照试验的基线调查数据。样本 ( n  = 618) 包括因虐待或忽视指控而向儿童保护服务机构 (CPS) 报告和调查的看护人。

方法

普通最小二乘回归用于研究 ACE 数量、CCE 量表得分和成人抑郁症状之间的关系。探索性因素分析用于检查与 ACE 相比的 CCE 量表项目。

结果

高 ACE 评分与更多的抑郁症状相关（B  = 0.82，p  < 0.001）。相反，CCE 量表得分较高的成年人抑郁症状较少（B  = -0.30，p  < 0.001）。还有初步证据表明，CCE 量表可能会利用与 ACE 类似的基础结构。

结论

鉴于 CCE 测量有利于以优势为导向的问题项目，在评估已知与虐待自己的孩子有关的父母童年逆境时，它可能是一个有希望的替代风险导向的 ACE 分数，并作为一种确定服务需求的方法与虐待预防背景下的童年创伤有关。