Caregiver Adversity and Mental Health Predicting Children’s Healthy Psychosocial Functioning Data are fully collected:
Abstract
In this study we aimed to explore the impact of both caregiver and child adversity, alongside caregiver mental health, on children’s psychosocial outcomes. While existing literature highlights the role of childhood adversity in predicting later psychosocial difficulties, less is known about the combined influence of caregiver adversity and mental health on children’s functioning. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relative contributions of caregiver adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), child ACEs, and caregiver anxiety and depression to children’s mental health, as measured by the Pediatric Symptoms Checklist (PSC-17). Data were collected from 148 caregivers (N = 148), predominantly white and female, who self-reported on their own and their children’s ACEs, as well as their own anxiety and depression levels. Caregiver anxiety was measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7; Spitzer et al., 2006), and depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; Kroenke & Spitzer, 2002). Child psychosocial functioning was measured with the Pediatric Symptoms Checklist (PSC; Jellinek & Murphy, 2006). Using multiple regression analysis, both caregiver anxiety and child ACEs were found to be significantly associated with children’s mental health [F (5, 142) = 13.75, p < .001, R² = .326]. Follow-up analyses revealed that caregiver anxiety (b = .43, p = .028) and child ACEs (b = 1.48, p < .001) were the strongest predictors of children’s psychosocial difficulties. Our findings suggest that caregiver anxiety and child ACEs are the strongest predictors of child psychosocial functioning, underscoring the critical role of addressing, building, and maintaining support for both caregiver mental health and children’s own adversity. Future interventions could focus on reducing caregiver anxiety to enhance children’s mental and emotional well-being. Further research could explore whether caregiver anxiety mediates the relationship between caregiver adversity and children’s psychosocial outcomes.
Start Time
16-4-2025 9:00 AM
End Time
16-4-2025 11:30 AM
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Category
Social Sciences
Student Type
Undergraduate Student
Faculty Mentor
Wallace Dixon
Faculty Department
Psychology
Caregiver Adversity and Mental Health Predicting Children’s Healthy Psychosocial Functioning Data are fully collected:
In this study we aimed to explore the impact of both caregiver and child adversity, alongside caregiver mental health, on children’s psychosocial outcomes. While existing literature highlights the role of childhood adversity in predicting later psychosocial difficulties, less is known about the combined influence of caregiver adversity and mental health on children’s functioning. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relative contributions of caregiver adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), child ACEs, and caregiver anxiety and depression to children’s mental health, as measured by the Pediatric Symptoms Checklist (PSC-17). Data were collected from 148 caregivers (N = 148), predominantly white and female, who self-reported on their own and their children’s ACEs, as well as their own anxiety and depression levels. Caregiver anxiety was measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7; Spitzer et al., 2006), and depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; Kroenke & Spitzer, 2002). Child psychosocial functioning was measured with the Pediatric Symptoms Checklist (PSC; Jellinek & Murphy, 2006). Using multiple regression analysis, both caregiver anxiety and child ACEs were found to be significantly associated with children’s mental health [F (5, 142) = 13.75, p < .001, R² = .326]. Follow-up analyses revealed that caregiver anxiety (b = .43, p = .028) and child ACEs (b = 1.48, p < .001) were the strongest predictors of children’s psychosocial difficulties. Our findings suggest that caregiver anxiety and child ACEs are the strongest predictors of child psychosocial functioning, underscoring the critical role of addressing, building, and maintaining support for both caregiver mental health and children’s own adversity. Future interventions could focus on reducing caregiver anxiety to enhance children’s mental and emotional well-being. Further research could explore whether caregiver anxiety mediates the relationship between caregiver adversity and children’s psychosocial outcomes.