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Self-Efficacy Moderates the Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Generalized Anxiety Symptoms Among Latine College Students

Latine individuals who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may be at particularly high risk for increased anxiety in emerging adulthood. However, research has yet to examine links between ACES and subsequent anxiety in college-attending Latine individuals, nor has research consider...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of latinx psychology 2024-11, Vol.12 (4), p.348-361
Main Authors: Urcuyo, Anya E., Comer, Jonathan S., Chavira, Denise, de Dios, Marcel A., Zvolensky, Michael J., Cano, Miguel Ángel
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Latine individuals who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may be at particularly high risk for increased anxiety in emerging adulthood. However, research has yet to examine links between ACES and subsequent anxiety in college-attending Latine individuals, nor has research considered protective factors that may help mitigate these negative associations. The present study examined the association between ACEs and generalized anxiety symptoms in a sample of 553 Latine emerging adults (aged 18-25) in college students. We also examined the extent to which emotional self-efficacy (ESE), general self-efficacy (GSE), and optimism may moderate association between ACEs and generalized anxiety symptoms. Results indicate that higher ACEs scores were associated with higher generalized anxiety symptoms. Moderation models found that both ESE and GSE moderated the relationship between ACEs and anxiety, such that these links were attenuated among individuals with higher self-efficacy. In contrast, optimism did not function as a moderator. These results highlight the strategic value of fostering self-efficacy among Latine adolescents and young adults who have experienced childhood adversities and can inform improved prevention, early identification, and intervention efforts. Las personas latinas que tuvieron Experiencias Adversas en la Infancia (ACEs, por sus siglas en inglés) podrían tener un riesgo particularmente alto de sufrir un mayor nivel de ansiedad a principios de la edad adulta. Sin embargo, la investigación aún no ha examinado los vínculos entre las ACEs y la ansiedad subsiguiente en personas latinas que asisten a la universidad, ni ha considerado los factores protectores que podrían ayudar a mitigar estas asociaciones negativas. El presente estudio examinó la asociación entre las ACEs y los síntomas de ansiedad generalizada en una muestra de 553 adultos latinos jóvenes (de 18 a 25 años; estudiantes universitarios). También examinamos hasta qué punto la Autoeficacia Emocional (ESE), la Autoeficacia General (GSE), y el optimismo podrían moderar la asociación entre las ACEs y los síntomas de ansiedad generalizada. Los resultados indican que las puntuaciones más altas de ACEs se asociaron con mayores síntomas de ansiedad generalizada. Los modelos de moderación encontraron que tanto la ESE como la GSE moderaron la relación entre las ACEs y la ansiedad, a tal punto que estos vínculos se atenuaban entre las personas con mayor autoeficacia. En cambio,
ISSN:2578-8086
2578-8094
DOI:10.1037/lat0000258