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Measuring developmental changes in exposure to adversity: a Life Chart and rating scale approach
S D Gest1, M G Reed, A S Masten
1Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-1104, USA. scott.gest@asu.edu
Development and Psychopathology
|April 20, 1999
Summary
This study validates a method for measuring childhood adversity, finding family issues are most common early on. Later, personal behaviors become a larger source of adversity, showing developmental trends.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Background:
- Assessing childhood adversity is crucial for understanding long-term developmental outcomes.
- Existing methods may not capture the full spectrum or developmental trajectory of adversity exposure.
- A reliable and valid strategy is needed to track life experiences from childhood through adolescence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the reliability and validity of a comprehensive strategy for assessing adversity exposure.
- To analyze developmental trends in different types of adversity from childhood to midadolescence.
- To establish the stability and prominence of various adversity sources over time.
Main Methods:
- A community-based longitudinal study of 205 children.
- Utilized multiple measures completed by adolescents and parents.
- Aggregated data into a Life Chart record of lifetime adversity exposure.
- Trained judges rated the severity of adversity across three time spans with high interrater reliability.
Main Results:
- Family adversity was the predominant type in childhood and remained significant into midadolescence, showing stability.
- Adversity related to personal behavior and psychological functioning increased in prominence by late adolescence.
- Adversity from physical ailments declined, while community-related adversity increased over time.
Conclusions:
- The comprehensive strategy demonstrated reliability and validity in assessing adversity exposure.
- Coherent developmental trends in adversity exposure can be identified through longitudinal severity ratings.
- Understanding these trends is vital for interventions and support during critical developmental periods.
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