Monday, May 16, 2022
5/16/2022
PROJECT ABSTRACT Child adversity is a global public health problem. Exposure to childhood adversity such as physical/sexual abuse, domestic violence, community violence, poverty, neglect, and institutionalization is common;; estimates range from 12% in Europe to 64% in Asia. Childhood adversity impacts both neurological and psychological development and is frequently found to be a strong predictor of adverse outcomes in adulthood, including risk behaviors such as interpersonal violence, alcohol problems, and sexual risk-taking. Contrary to the cumulative risk model, the predominant framework used to explain this relationship, distinguishing between deprivation and threat, the Dimensional Model of Adversity and Psychopathology argues that there are unique emotional, cognitive, and neurobiological pathways that underlie the association between dimensions of child adversity and developmental outcomes. However, importantly, there have not been studies from low- and-middle income country contexts, where it is possible that the environmental and cultural context could moderate the relationship between adversity and cognitive functioning. The burden of psychological conditions falls heavily in these countries. However, psychological research focuses narrowly on Americans, who comprise less than 5 percent of the world’s population. The specific aims of this research are to: (1) Identify the elements of adversity in early and middle childhood and their related risk behavior outcomes in adolescence and young adulthood;; (2) Determine to what extent the relationships in Aim 1 are mediated by different indicators of cognitive functioning and emotional regulation;; (3) Determine to what extent the relationships between the elements of adversity in early and middle childhood and the indicators of cognitive functioning and emotional regulation are moderated by parenting behaviors and cultural norms of parenting;; and (4) To understand the effects of the research cross-culturally and across different longitudinal data sets. This study will utilize longitudinal cohort data from Parenting Across Cultures and Young Lives-Peru. Together, these sources contain 17 waves of data among 3 cohorts, spanning childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood with participants from 10 different countries. This investigation can help to inform intervention strategies to prevent risky behaviors among youth who have been exposed to adverse experiences in childhood. To support the successful execution of this research project and promote the applicant’s growth into an independent investigator, additional training during the fellowship period will be sought to enhance the applicant’s research network, quantitative analysis skills, and subject matter knowledge in developmental neuroscience. Together, this proposed research and training plan will lay the foundation for the applicant’s future career as an independently funded developmental science researcher focused on the cognitive and emotional development of children and youth who have been exposed to adversity.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
