Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 13, 2025

Rapid Fractionation and Isolation of Whole Blood Components in Samples Obtained from a Community-based Setting
11:31

Rapid Fractionation and Isolation of Whole Blood Components in Samples Obtained from a Community-based Setting

Published on: November 30, 2015

16.3K

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Neighborhood Support, and Internalizing and Externalizing Mental Disorders among

Ahmad Khanijahani1, Kenan Sualp2

  • 1Department of Health Administration and Public Health, John G. Rangos School of Health Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. khanijahania@duq.edu.

Community Mental Health Journal
|March 12, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are common in US children. Higher neighborhood support can reduce the risk of internalizing and externalizing mental disorders, especially in adolescents.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) affect nearly half of US children.
  • Mental health disorders, including internalizing (anxiety/depression) and externalizing (ADHD/behavior problems), are prevalent in children.
  • Understanding the interplay between ACEs, neighborhood support, and mental health is crucial for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between lifelong Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), neighborhood support, and mental disorders in US children aged 6-17.
  • To determine if neighborhood support moderates the relationship between ACEs and mental health outcomes.
  • To examine age-related differences in these associations.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized pooled data from the National Survey of Children's Health (2016-2019), including 94,369 children aged 6-17.
  • Employed logistic regression models to analyze the associations between ACEs, neighborhood support, and diagnoses of internalizing and externalizing mental disorders.
  • Controlled for neighborhood support to assess its moderating effect on the ACEs-mental disorder relationship.

Main Results:

  • Increased types of ACEs and lower neighborhood support were significantly associated with higher odds of internalizing and externalizing mental disorders.
  • The association between ACEs and mental disorders remained significant even after accounting for neighborhood support.
  • Neighborhood support showed a stronger association with externalizing disorders than internalizing disorders, and its protective effect was more pronounced in older children (12-17 years).

Conclusions:

  • Higher neighborhood support can mitigate the negative impact of ACEs on children's mental health, particularly externalizing disorders in adolescents.
  • Neighborhood support is a significant protective factor against mental disorders in children exposed to ACEs.
  • Interventions aimed at strengthening neighborhood support may be beneficial in preventing and managing mental health issues in children with a history of ACEs.

Keywords:
Adverse childhood experiencesChild mental disordersNeighborhood supportResidence characteristics

More Related Videos

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents06:15

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents

Published on: July 10, 2017

13.2K
Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice07:15

Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice

Published on: March 15, 2024

2.0K

Related Concept Videos

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
535
Oppositional Defiant Disorder01:30

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

A persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, defiant behavior, or vindictiveness characterizes Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Symptoms must occur over at least six months, involve interactions with individuals beyond siblings, and meet specific diagnostic criteria to be clinically significant. The disorder affects emotional regulation, social interactions, and behavior, often manifesting early in life and influencing long-term development and functioning.
Diagnostic Criteria and...
291
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
282
Conduct Disorder01:28

Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...
253
Bullying02:04

Bullying

A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is...
8.6K
Relationship with Other Adult Family Members and Siblings01:29

Relationship with Other Adult Family Members and Siblings

Other adult family members and siblings play a crucial role in shaping children’s social and emotional development. While parents or primary caregivers are often the central figures in early attachment and socialization, other adults in a child’s life, such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles, can significantly influence developmental outcomes. These influences depend on each adult’s personality and may help compensate when a primary caregiver is emotionally distant or...
80