Childhood Adversity and Life Satisfaction in Adults with Alternative Care Experience in 12 Low- and Middle-Income Nations: The Mediating Roles of Individual and Relational Protective Factors and Resilience

Nicole Gilbertson Wilke (), Megan Roberts, Lindsey Newsom, Tony Mitchell and Amanda Hiles Howard
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Nicole Gilbertson Wilke: CAFO Center for Applied Research for Vulnerable Children and Families, Arequipa 04000, Peru
Megan Roberts: Department of Education, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
Lindsey Newsom: College of Osteopathic Medicine, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA 24515, USA
Tony Mitchell: Christian Alliance for Orphans, McLean, VA 22101, USA
Amanda Hiles Howard: Department of Psychology, Samford University, Homewood, AL 35229, USA

Social Sciences, 2024, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: Adults with care experience have elevated rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and a greater likelihood of poor outcomes. Some research has examined how protective factors and resilience impact outcomes among care leavers, but few studies include those from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Further, little work has examined the interactive impact of protective factors and resilience in this population. We investigated (a) the prevalence of ACEs among care leavers from LMICs, the mediating roles of (b) resilience and (c) individual and relational protective factors on the relationship between ACEs and life satisfaction, and (d) whether mediation was occurring both in parallel and sequentially. Five hundred forty-two care leavers from twelve LMICs completed an online survey. Participants completed the Brief Resilience Scale, ACEs Questionnaire, and open-ended questions regarding care experiences. Open-ended questions were coded for protective factors. There was a high prevalence of ACEs among care leavers. The relationship between ACEs and life satisfaction was partially mediated by resilience. Individual and relational protective factors partially mediated the relationship between ACEs and life satisfaction. Finally, resilience and protective factors partially mediated the relationship between ACEs and life satisfaction in both parallel and sequential mediation among care leavers from LMICs. Protective factors operate interactively to influence resilience, increasing life satisfaction among care leavers from LMICs.

Keywords: care leavers; alternative care; adverse childhood experiences (ACEs); protective factors; life satisfaction; low- and middle-income countries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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