PROJECTABSTRACT Childadversityisaglobalpublichealthproblem.Exposuretochildhoodadversitysuchasphysical/sexual abuse,domesticviolence,communityviolence,poverty,neglect,andinstitutionalizationiscommon;?estimates rangefrom12%inEuropeto64%inAsia.Childhoodadversityimpactsbothneurologicalandpsychological developmentandisfrequentlyfoundtobeastrongpredictorofadverseoutcomesinadulthood,includingrisk behaviorssuchasinterpersonalviolence,alcoholproblems,andsexualrisk-taking.Contrarytothecumulative riskmodel,thepredominantframeworkusedtoexplainthisrelationship,distinguishingbetweendeprivation andthreat,theDimensionalModelofAdversityandPsychopathologyarguesthatthereareuniqueemotional, cognitive,andneurobiologicalpathwaysthatunderlietheassociationbetweendimensionsofchildadversity anddevelopmentaloutcomes.However,importantly,therehavenotbeenstudiesfromlow-and-middleincome countrycontexts,whereitispossiblethattheenvironmentalandculturalcontextcouldmoderatethe relationshipbetweenadversityandcognitivefunctioning.Theburdenofpsychologicalconditionsfallsheavilyin thesecountries.However,psychologicalresearchfocusesnarrowlyonAmericans,whocompriselessthan5 percentoftheworld?spopulation.
The specificaims ofthisresearchareto:(1)Identifytheelementsof adversityinearlyandmiddlechildhoodandtheirrelatedriskbehavioroutcomesinadolescenceandyoung adulthood;?(2)DeterminetowhatextenttherelationshipsinAim1aremediatedbydifferentindicatorsof cognitivefunctioningandemotionalregulation;?(3)Determinetowhatextenttherelationshipsbetweenthe elementsofadversityinearlyandmiddlechildhoodandtheindicatorsofcognitivefunctioningandemotional regulationaremoderatedbyparentingbehaviorsandculturalnormsofparenting;?and(4)Tounderstandthe effectsoftheresearchcross-culturallyandacrossdifferentlongitudinaldatasets.Thisstudywillutilize longitudinalcohortdatafromParentingAcrossCulturesandYoungLives-Peru.Together,thesesources contain17wavesofdataamong3cohorts,spanningchildhood,adolescence,andyoungadulthoodwith participantsfrom10differentcountries.Thisinvestigationcanhelptoinforminterventionstrategiestoprevent riskybehaviorsamongyouthwhohavebeenexposedtoadverseexperiencesinchildhood.Tosupportthe successfulexecutionofthisresearchprojectandpromotetheapplicant?sgrowthintoanindependent investigator,additionaltrainingduringthefellowshipperiodwillbesoughttoenhancetheapplicant?sresearch network,quantitativeanalysisskills,andsubjectmatterknowledgeindevelopmentalneuroscience.Together, thisproposedresearchandtrainingplanwilllaythefoundationfortheapplicant?sfuturecareerasan independentlyfundeddevelopmentalscienceresearcherfocusedonthecognitiveandemotionaldevelopment ofchildrenandyouthwhohavebeenexposedtoadversity.
With strong evidence for the association between adverse experiences in childhood and risky health behaviors in young adulthood, research is needed to explore the neuropsychological developmental mechanisms of this relationship, particularly among those in low and middle- income countries. This research is aimed at examining whether cognitive factors mediate this relationship and whether it is different for different types of adverse exposures. Findings will fill an important gap in the literature, providing insight into modifiable mechanisms in this pathway, in order to inform intervention strategies to prevent risky behaviors among youth who have been exposed to adverse experiences in childhood.
