Childhood adversity has a negative impact on mental health and well-being. Self-efficacy, an important aspect of motivation and personal achievement, appears to be a valuable factor for a person’s...Show moreChildhood adversity has a negative impact on mental health and well-being. Self-efficacy, an important aspect of motivation and personal achievement, appears to be a valuable factor for a person’s well-being and mental health and, therefore, has been proven to be affected by childhood adversity. In addition, social support may have a protective effect on the relationship between childhood adversity and negative outcomes. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between childhood adversity and self-efficacy in young adults, examining the moderating role of social support from friends and siblings. Data were collected as part of the Flemish Study on Parenting, Personality, and Development, focusing on 331 participants aged 22-27. Using the Stressful Life Events Questionnaire, the Network of Relationships Inventory-Relationship Qualities Version, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the current study conducts regression and moderation analyses to explore the relationships between childhood adversity, social support, and self-efficacy. The results show no significant relationship between childhood adversity and self-efficacy and social support as a moderating factor. These findings do not support the hypotheses and therefore suggest that in the investigated sample the variables do not have a significant relationship. However, this study highlights the need for further research to understand the dynamics between childhood adversity, social support, and self-efficacy.Show less
Research on suicidal ideation indicates the significant role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and early parental attachment but fails to investigate risk potential in student populations....Show moreResearch on suicidal ideation indicates the significant role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and early parental attachment but fails to investigate risk potential in student populations. This study aimed to research how adverse childhood experiences in a population of university students who report mood and stress problems are related to suicidal ideation and whether the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and suicidal ideation is moderated by attachment style. To target students at risk for suicidal ideation, purposive sampling was employed. An independent samples t-test with consecutive multiple regression (n= 234) showed that adverse childhood experiences, measured with the ACE questionnaire, predicted the presence and severity of suicidal ideation, measured by the BSSI. Consecutive ANCOVA showed that disorganized attachment to the mother and father, measured with the PBI, were found to predict suicidal ideation. Secure attachment was negatively associated with suicidal ideation, whereas for avoidant and anxious attachment there was no association found. A logistic regression analysis showed no moderation effect of insecure attachment styles in the relation between adverse childhood experiences and suicidal ideation. Gender, academic pressure, and nationality were controlled. Findings may be limited due to methodological and performance flaws. The results highlight the importance of early identification of adverse childhood experiences and disorganized attachment for intervention and prevention of later suicidal ideation amongst students.Show less
Experiences of childhood adversity are adverse experiences during childhood, such as abuse, neglect, poverty, and family dysfunction. These adverse experiences might make individuals vulnerable to...Show moreExperiences of childhood adversity are adverse experiences during childhood, such as abuse, neglect, poverty, and family dysfunction. These adverse experiences might make individuals vulnerable to mental health problems through their effect on brain development and brain functioning. Different dimensions of childhood adversity could have different effects on the brain and mental health. The exact mechanisms through which childhood adversity is related to the brain are not clear yet. The current study investigated the role of total childhood adversity, threat, and deprivation on anterior cingulate cortex-activity in response to stress in young people of age 16-26 (N=60). A cumulative approach was used to look at the role of total childhood adversity on anterior cingulate cortex-activity, a dimensional approach investigated the separate roles of the two dimensions threat and deprivation. Participants filled out a retrospective questionnaire about childhood adversity experiences (CTQ) and underwent a stressful fMRI task (MIST). Childhood adversity, threat and deprivation were expected to show a negative relationship with anterior cingulate cortex-activity in response to stress. The current study showed no evidence for a relationship between total childhood adversity and anterior cingulate cortex-activity in response to stress, nor for a relationship between the separate dimensions of threat and deprivation and anterior cingulate cortex-activity in response to stress. More research is needed to further study the underlying mechanisms by which childhood adversity is associated with brain development to help improve mental health in young people.Show less
Each year, roughly one in two children between the ages of 2 and 17 experience some type of childhood adversity (CA). Multiple studies have researched the relationship between CAs and a large set...Show moreEach year, roughly one in two children between the ages of 2 and 17 experience some type of childhood adversity (CA). Multiple studies have researched the relationship between CAs and a large set of mental disorders. However, less research has been done into the relationship between CAs and personality traits, even though links between life events and personality development are well established. In the current exploratory, cross-sectional study (N = 442), using a mixed-gender (N = 442) and female (N = 354) subset, it will be examined whether there are relations between personality traits, between CAs, between personality traits and CAs, and if there are differences between a mixed-gender and a female subset network. Participants are students enrolled at Dutch educational institutions between the ages of 18 and 53. Personality traits and CAs are measured with the Big Five Inventory-10 (BFI-10) and Big Five Inventory-44 (BFI-44), questionnaires adapted from the Caring Universities survey, and the Childhood Trauma Screener (CTQ), respectively. Subsequently, these questionnaires are analyzed using correlational and network analyses in SPSS and JASP, respectively. Overall, almost all CAs co-occur. Furthermore, higher neuroticism scores co-occurred with more sexual abuse and emotional neglect, and vice versa. In contrast, no relation was found between emotional abuse and personality traits. Finally, the association of personality traits and CAs are not stronger in the female subset network than in the mixed-gender network. Future research should use a more representative student sample, with longitudinal design, and evenly distributed gender subsets, to ensure generalizability and causality.Show less
Individuals who experienced childhood adversity (CA) are at higher risk to develop depressive symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood. Different factors are thought to be involved in this...Show moreIndividuals who experienced childhood adversity (CA) are at higher risk to develop depressive symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood. Different factors are thought to be involved in this association, including the immune system. Of the two most important immune markers, IL-6 has repeatedly been confirmed to be involved in the association between CA and depressive symptoms. Yet studies investigating the potential role of TNF-α are limited and show inconsistent results. This master thesis investigated the relationship between CA and depressive symptoms, along with the potential moderating effect of TNF-α on this relationship. The study used a cross-sectional design and included an online assessment (session 1) and an in-unit assessment at Addenbrooke’s hospital (Cambridge, UK) (session 2). Severity of CA and depressive symptoms were assessed during session 1 with the use of self-report questionnaires. Baseline TNF-α levels were assessed during session 2 through blood venepunctures. As expected, results revealed that the severity of CA significantly predicts depressive symptoms in adolescence (r2 = .07, p = .02). However, TNF-α levels did not predict depressive symptoms, and TNF-α levels did not moderate the relationship between severity of CA and depressive symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood.Show less
