Dataset Information

Pathways between childhood victimization and psychosis-like symptoms in the ALSPAC birth cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Several large population-based studies have demonstrated associations between adverse childhood experiences and later development of psychotic symptoms. However, little attention has been paid to the mechanisms involved in this pathway and the few existing studies have relied on cross-sectional assessments.

Methods

Prospective data on 6692 children from the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) were used to address this issue. Mothers reported on children's exposure to harsh parenting and domestic violence in early childhood, and children self-reported on bullying victimization prior to 8.5 years. Presence of children's anxiety at 10 years and their depressive symptoms at 9 and 11 years were ascertained from mothers, and children completed assessments of self-esteem and locus of control at 8.5 years. Children were interviewed regarding psychotic symptoms at a mean age of 12.9 years. Multiple mediation analysis was performed to examine direct and indirect effects of each childhood adversity on psychotic symptoms.

Results

The association between harsh parenting and psychotic symptoms was fully mediated by anxiety, depressive symptoms, external locus of control, and low self-esteem. Bullying victimization and exposure to domestic violence had their associations with psychotic symptoms partially mediated by anxiety, depression, locus of control, and self-esteem. Similar results were obtained following adjustment for a range of confounders and when analyses were conducted for boys and girls separately.

Conclusions

These findings tentatively suggest that specific cognitive and affective difficulties in childhood could be targeted to minimize the likelihood of adolescents exposed to early trauma from developing psychotic symptoms.

SUBMITTER: Fisher HL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3756772 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Pathways between childhood victimization and psychosis-like symptoms in the ALSPAC birth cohort.

Fisher Helen L HL Schreier Andrea A Zammit Stanley S Maughan Barbara B Munafò Marcus R MR Lewis Glyn G Wolke Dieter D

Schizophrenia bulletin 20120901 5

<h4>Background</h4>Several large population-based studies have demonstrated associations between adverse childhood experiences and later development of psychotic symptoms. However, little attention has been paid to the mechanisms involved in this pathway and the few existing studies have relied on cross-sectional assessments.<h4>Methods</h4>Prospective data on 6692 children from the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) were used to address this issue. Mothers reported on c ...[more]

PMID: 22941743

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Project description:BackgroundChildhood adversity strongly predicts adolescent multiple health risk behaviours (MRBs) such as alcohol/tobacco use, self-harm and physical inactivity, and both adversities and MRBs are associated with premature mortality and several chronic health conditions that are among the leading causes of death in adults. It is therefore important to understand the relationship between adversities and MRBs and what could mediate any association. The aim of this study was to explore whether childhood psychopathology mediates associations between adversities and MRBs.MethodsParticipants were young people in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) (N = 5,799). Using structural equation modelling, we explored the associations between adversities before 9 years and MRBs at age 16 years. We also explored potential mediating pathways through dimensional psychopathology measured by the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire subscales at age 12 years.ResultsThere were strong positive associations between adversities and MRBs (β .25, 95% CI 0.20, 0.31, p < .001) suggesting that each additional adversity is associated with a 0.25 increase in number of MRBs out of 13 total risk behaviours. We found robust evidence of mediating pathways from adversities through conduct problems (β .05, 95% CI 0.03, 0.06, p < .001), hyperactivity/inattention (β .02, 95% CI 0.01, 0.03, p < .001) and peer relationship problems (β -.02, 95% CI -0.03, -0.02, p < .001) to MRBs.ConclusionsIncreased conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention appear to partially explain the relationship between adversities and MRBs. Peer relationship problems also appear to reduce the association between adversities and MRBs, and further research is needed to understand how to encourage peer connectivity without increasing risk of MRBs. These results suggest that interventions aimed at reducing MRBs among those exposed to childhood adversities could focus on prevention of behavioural problems.

Dataset Information

Pathways between childhood victimization and psychosis-like symptoms in the ALSPAC birth cohort.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Pathways between childhood victimization and psychosis-like symptoms in the ALSPAC birth cohort.

Similar Datasets

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