In Deep Water? Psychopathic Traits and Related Externalizing Problems as Detrimental Adaptations to Child Adversity

Child maltreatment is a risk factor for developing psychopathic traits and other externalizing problems. However, little is known about the relationship between specific sorts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), psychopathic traits, and related externalizing problems, especially in non-English-speaking countries. Therefore, this study investigates the role of ACEs in a wide range of externalizing problems, including psychopathic traits, in a sample of Spanish emerging adults. A total of 490 Spanish participants (62.4% female), aged 18-20 (M = 18.90), participated. Participants retrospectively completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, and the Youth Psychopathic Inventory. They were recruited from community settings, using convenience and snowball sampling methods. Results showed that the number of ACEs predicted a higher likelihood of psychopathic traits, police problems, and drug use. Sexual abuse was the ACE with greater predictive power for future psychopathic traits. A common pattern was observed in the use of substances as a coping strategy in the face of a variety of ACEs (specifically physical abuse, sexual abuse, and household substance abuse). Nonetheless, witnessing domestic violence acted as a protective factor decreasing the odds of drug use. There was also evidence of intergenerational transmission of incarcerated relatives and the higher probability of the participants being in jail or prison, and household substance abuse and the higher substance use and alcohol consumption in participants. These findings strengthen the link between ACEs, psychopathic traits, and related outcomes, highlighting the critical policy relevance of ACEs research across disciplines.