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Patterns of early childhood adversity and neighborhood deprivation predict unique challenges in adolescence: A UK birth cohort study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 October 2024

Zhenyu Z. Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA
Benjamin L. Bayly*
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology and Education, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA
*
Corresponding author: Benjamin L. Bayly; Email: blb339@psu.edu

Abstract

This study applies a comprehensive bioecological perspective to address a significant gap in the childhood adversity literature by employing latent profile analysis to examine the impact of diverse combinations of early childhood adversities and protective factors on adolescent psychosocial and behavioral outcomes. Drawing from the United Kingdom’s Millennium Cohort Study (N = 19,444), we identified eight unique profiles of early childhood adversity and protective factors. These profiles provide a nuanced understanding of adversity combinations and allow for differentiation between groups with similar profiles. Latent profile membership was a significant predictor of all adolescent outcome variables, indicating that profiles differed significantly from one another on psychosocial and behavioral outcomes (Wald values ranged from 10.10–623.22; p < .001). Some findings support the cumulative risk model, indicating that exposure to multiple early adversities increases the likelihood of adverse outcomes. However, we also found that specific adversities, such as parental psychopathology, parental alcohol use, and neighborhood deprivation, uniquely impact adolescent outcomes. This study highlights the necessity for tailored interventions and policies to support children with distinct early life experiences, emphasizing the importance of addressing both cumulative and specific adversities at multiple levels to prevent psychosocial and behavioral problems in adolescence.

Information

Type
Regular Article
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press

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