Session: New Frontiers in the Measurement and Modeling of Adverse Experiences (Society for Social Work and Research 28th Annual Conference - Recentering & Democratizing Knowledge: The Next 30 Years of Social Work Science)

Since the advent of the adverse childhood experiences (ACE) framework a quarter century ago, a flourishing body of research has generated new insights into the prevalence, correlates, and consequences of ACEs. Yet, mounting critiques of ACE measurement and modeling standards warrant further attention. This symposium aims to advance ACE research along three lines: (1) improving estimates of disparity by applying quantitative intersectional approaches; (2) introducing a new field of research on adverse and positive adult experiences; (3) elucidating mechanisms that link adverse experiences to generational and intergenerational consequences.

Study 1 builds on recent studies that indicate racial/ethnic differences in ACEs are confounded by economic status. Using data collected from 5,196 participants in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, this investigation examined whether differences in ACE scores across racial/ethnic groups were moderated by economic status and gender. An intersectional analysis was also performed to explore variation in ACEs across composite subgroups of different racial/ethnic, economic, and gender combinations. Results confirmed that racial/ethnic differences were confounded by poverty status and gender. For instance, compared to non-poor White men, higher ACE scores were observed among non-poor and poor White and Hispanic women as well as poor Black women, but lower ACE scores were observed among poor Black men.

Study 2 applies advanced intersectional modeling techniques, including multilevel analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy (MAIHDA), to examine disparities in ACEs by sexual identity status. Data collected from 12,519 participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were analyzed to explore variation in ACEs across subgroups defined by intersections of sexual identity, economic status, race/ethnicity, and gender. Compared to straight participants, ACEs were more prevalent among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and mostly straight participants. These differences were more pronounced among women than men and among non-poor than poor individuals.

Study 3 extends research on adverse and positive childhood experiences by examining the joint effects of adverse and positive experiences in adulthood. Reinforcing an initial validation study of the Adult Experiences Survey, a seminal measure of adverse adult experiences (AAEs), this investigation aims to revalidate the measure in a more generalizable sample of 2,045 adults while exploring whether positive adult experiences (PAEs) protect against AAEs. Results confirmed that the Adult Experiences Survey has sound psychometric properties. Consistent with resilience theory, PAEs (e.g., social support; concrete support) moderated the associated effects of AAEs on mental health and well-being.

Study 4 contributes to emerging literature on life-course and intergenerational models of adversity. Data gathered from 3,065 low-income maternal caregivers by home visiting programs were matched to state child protective service (CPS) records to assess the degree to which exposure to domestic violence mediated the association between maternal exposure to ACEs and the likelihood of child CPS involvement. In support of growing evidence linking ACEs to generational and intergenerational effects, results showed that (a) greater childhood adversity increased the risk of enduring domestic violence and having a child investigated by CPS, and (b) the ACE-CPS link was mediated by domestic violence.