Background: It is unclear if COVID-19 measurements affect adolescent with a history of Childhood Aversity (CA) more than other adolescents. It is important to find out, because CA already predicts...Show moreBackground: It is unclear if COVID-19 measurements affect adolescent with a history of Childhood Aversity (CA) more than other adolescents. It is important to find out, because CA already predicts more risk for psychological problems such as depression. CA can also have an impact on the stress hormone cortisol, which can lead to less or more depressive symptoms. Research is needed to find out if CA and cortisol can be of risk for developing depression after lockdown due to COVID-19 or if adolescents will be resilient to these kinds of stressors. Method: The sample consisted of 89 adolescents with a history of CA, recruited through an earlier study named Resilience after Individual Stress Exposure (RAISE). The adolescents filled in two questionnaires: Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and Mood and feelings questionnaire (MFQ). They also performed an fMRI stress task (MIST) where prior to this test blood was contained for measurement of cortisol. After the first lockdown of COVID-19 the MFQ was filled in again. Results: The results stated that after the lockdown the depression symptoms were increased (Z = 4,122, p < .001). But threat and deprivation (both CA) were not predictors of cortisol (threat: b = -.214, t (87) = -200, p = .842, deprivation: b = .316, t (87) = .2523, p = .801). Cortisol did not have mediation effect between threat/deprivation and changes in depression symptoms (threat: 95% CI [-.017,.026], deprivation: 95% CI [-.037,.031]). And lastly only threat was a predictor for changes in depression symptoms (b = .255, t (87) = 2.3863, p = .019). Discussion: This research has proved that there is an increase in depressive symptoms after the first lockdown in April of the year 2020. Secondly, history of threat and deprivation are not predictors of cortisollevels in the adolescence. Third, cortisol did not play a mediation role between CA (threat/deprivation) and depressive symptoms. Lastly, threat predicts depressive symptoms after the lockdown. In future similar situations, to prevent development of (more) depressive symptoms that may lead to depression disorder, extra support for adolescents, especially with history of threat, is needed.Show less
Around 70% of young people that engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) have attempted suicide at least once. NSSI has become one of the most concerning behaviors in young people, and having...Show moreAround 70% of young people that engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) have attempted suicide at least once. NSSI has become one of the most concerning behaviors in young people, and having experienced childhood adversity increased the risk of NSSI. Therefore, it is important to find protective factors against NSSI in young people with a history of childhood adversity. This thesis looked into the interaction between resilient functioning, friendship quality, and NSSI, and investigated if resilient functioning and friendship quality could reduce NSSI in young people with a history of childhood adversity. 72 young people, aged 16-26 years, who were exposed to childhood adversity before the age of 16 years were included in the study. They were asked to fill out online assessments about psychosocial functioning, childhood adversity history, friendship quality, and NSSI. The results showed that higher resilient functioning was related with a greater tendency of NSSI, and higher friendship quality was associated with a lower tendency of NSSI in young people with a history of childhood adversity. The relationship between resilient functioning and NSSI was not moderated by the friendship quality. Friendship is an important factor to buffer the negative effect of childhood adversity and reduce NSSI in young people. It can be valuable to add friendship in the intervention related to NSSI in young people with a history of childhood adversity.Show less
