Co‐Occurring Youth Profiles of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Protective Factors: Associations with Health, Resilience, and Racial Disparities

• Published in: American journal of community psychology 2020-03, Vol.65 (1-2), p.173-186
• Main Authors: Liu, Sabrina R., Kia‐Keating, Maryam, Nylund‐Gibson, Karen, Barnett, Miya L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Access; Adolescent; Adverse childhood experiences; Adverse Childhood Experiences - psychology; Adverse Childhood Experiences - statistics & numerical data; African Americans - psychology; African Americans - statistics & numerical data; Black white differences; Black white relations; Child; Childhood; Childhood factors; Children; Children & youth; Cultural differences; Ethnic Groups; Ethnicity; European Continental Ancestry Group; Female; Health care expenditures; Health disparities; Health problems; Health Status Disparities; Healthcare Disparities - ethnology; Healthcare Disparities - statistics & numerical data; Hispanic Americans - psychology; Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Latent transition analysis; Male; Mental health; Minority groups; Protective factors; Public health; Racial and ethnic differences; Racial differences; Racial inequality; Resilience; Resilience, Psychological; Social determinants of health; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; Youth
• ISSN: 0091-0562; 1573-2770
• DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12387

It is important to understand racial/ethnic differences in adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), given their relationship to long‐term physical and mental health, and the public health cost of the significant disparities that exist. Moreover, in order to inform interventions and promote resilience, it is critical to examine protective factors that mitigate the relationship between adversity and poor health. The current study utilized latent transition analyses (LTA) to examine co‐occurring profiles of ACEs and protective factors (from school, family, and community contexts) and links to health outcomes among 30,668 Black (10.4%), Latinx (12.3%), and White youth (77.3%) ages 12–17 (52.5% male) who participated in the 2011–12 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). Results suggested that greater adversity was associated with worse health, while more access to protective factors was associated with better health. White youth had consistently lower endorsement of ACEs, greater access to protective factors, and better health compared to their Black and Latinx counterparts. Efforts to improve child health and racial/ethnic disparities in research and practice must consider adversity, protective factors, and the systemic inequities faced by racial/ethnic minority youth in the United States. Highlights Family, school, and community resources can contribute to resilience in the context of ACEs. Racial/ethnic disparities exist regarding levels of ACEs, protective factors, and health. Initiatives to improve child health must consider ACEs, protective factors, & systemic inequities. ACEs intervention must be culturally‐informed and implemented across socioecological levels.