Description
Research on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), has examined the way experiencing a variety of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction during one’s childhood negatively affects one’s wellbeing over their lifespan. While the majority of the literature on childhood adversity has looked at the negative effect of ACEs on adolescent outcomes such as misbehavior, delinquency, and involvement in alcohol, drugs, or crime, this study utilizes a strengths-based approach. I focus on an outcome that measures positive adolescent wellbeing (EPOCH scale) as well as protective community factors that can help at-risk youth not just avoid negative outcomes but to thrive and flourish despite exposure to risk. The present study utilized data from multiple waves of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) (n=2,511) to determine the: 1) relationship between ACEs and EPOCH, 2) whether community factors of extracurricular activities, school climate, and neighborhood collective efficacy, impact EPOCH, and 3) how multiple protective measures of community involvement may moderate this relationship. This is the first known study to examine these relationships. I find a negative relationship between ACEs and EPOCH as well as the presence of a positive association between each community protective factor and the adolescent’s wellbeing. This study did not find evidence of moderation, however I found evidence for the Protective-Stabilizing Model of resilience theory, in that community factors neutralize the negative impact of ACEs on EPOCH. This study suggests that protective factors can be used to enhance resiliency and protect youth against ACEs.
