Childhood Adversity Moderates Change in Latent Patterns of Psychological Adjustment during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Survey of U.S. Adults

Kelly E. O’Connor (), Camie A. Tomlinson, Shelby E. McDonald, Samantha Brown, Jennifer W. Applebaum, Jennifer L. Murphy, Angela Matijczak, Barbara A. Zsembik and Stephen W. Porges
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Kelly E. O’Connor: Injury and Violence Prevention Program, Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
Camie A. Tomlinson: School of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-2027, USA
Shelby E. McDonald: Department of Community Research and Evaluation, Denver Zoological Foundation, Denver, CO 80205, USA
Samantha Brown: School of Social Work, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
Jennifer W. Applebaum: Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
Jennifer L. Murphy: School of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-2027, USA
Angela Matijczak: School of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-2027, USA
Barbara A. Zsembik: Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
Stephen W. Porges: Traumatic Stress Research Consortium, Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA

Social Sciences, 2023, vol. 12, issue 3, 1-21

Abstract: Emerging evidence suggests that the consequences of childhood adversity impact later psychopathology by increasing individuals’ risk of experiencing difficulties in adjusting to stressful situations later in life. The goals of this study were to: (a) identify sociodemographic factors associated with subgroups of psychological adjustment prior to and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and (b) examine whether and to what extent types of childhood adversity predict transition probabilities. Participants were recruited via multiple social media platforms and listservs. Data were collected via an internet-based survey. Our analyses reflect 1942 adults ( M = 39.68 years); 39.8% reported experiencing at least one form of childhood adversity. Latent profile analyses (LPAs) and latent transition analyses (LTAs) were conducted to determine patterns of psychological adjustment and the effects of childhood adversity on transition probabilities over time. We identified five subgroups of psychological adjustment characterized by symptom severity level. Participants who were younger in age and those who endorsed marginalized identities exhibited poorer psychological adjustment during the pandemic. Childhood exposure to family and community violence and having basic needs met as a child (e.g., food, shelter) significantly moderated the relation between latent profile membership over time. Clinical and research implications are discussed.

Keywords: COVID-19; latent transition analysis; mental health; family violence; community violence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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