TY - JOUR
T1 - Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Females in Substance Use Treatment and Their Children: A Pilot Study
T2 - A pilot study
AU - Smith, Brittany T.
AU - Brumage, Michael R.
AU - Zullig, Keith J.
AU - Claydon, Elizabeth A.
AU - Smith, Megan L.
AU - Kristjansson, Alfgeir L.
N1 - © 2021 The Authors.
PY - 2021/12/1
Y1 - 2021/12/1
N2 - Women with substance use disorder (SUD) often have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The intergenerational nature of ACEs also put their children at risk for experiencing ACEs. However, no research has explored the prevalence of ACEs in children whose mothers have SUD. This study assessed ACE scores in mothers with SUD and their children and compared them with non-SUD participants. Females with SUD were recruited from a treatment center (n = 50) and compared to females without SUD from the same area (n = 50). The ACE scores of the participants and their children were measured as well as sociodemographic variables. ANOVA and Fisher’s Exact tests were used to examine univariate differences. Multivariate regression models assessed the difference in ACE scores between the groups and their children and the relationship between maternal and child ACE scores while including sociodemographic confounders. The mean ACE score was significantly higher in SUD participants (4.9, SD = 2.9) when compared to non-SUD participants (1.9, SD = 2.0) after controlling for sociodemographic variables (p < .01). Children of treatment participants also had significantly higher mean ACE scores (3.9, SD = 2.3) than children of comparison participants (1.3, SD = 2.0, p < .01). Maternal ACE score was positively related to children’s ACE score after controlling for sociodemographic variables. Given the intergenerational nature of ACEs and their high burden in both mothers and children in substance use treatment, these preliminary findings suggest that mother–child trauma-informed interventions may be appropriate for this population.
AB - Women with substance use disorder (SUD) often have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The intergenerational nature of ACEs also put their children at risk for experiencing ACEs. However, no research has explored the prevalence of ACEs in children whose mothers have SUD. This study assessed ACE scores in mothers with SUD and their children and compared them with non-SUD participants. Females with SUD were recruited from a treatment center (n = 50) and compared to females without SUD from the same area (n = 50). The ACE scores of the participants and their children were measured as well as sociodemographic variables. ANOVA and Fisher’s Exact tests were used to examine univariate differences. Multivariate regression models assessed the difference in ACE scores between the groups and their children and the relationship between maternal and child ACE scores while including sociodemographic confounders. The mean ACE score was significantly higher in SUD participants (4.9, SD = 2.9) when compared to non-SUD participants (1.9, SD = 2.0) after controlling for sociodemographic variables (p < .01). Children of treatment participants also had significantly higher mean ACE scores (3.9, SD = 2.3) than children of comparison participants (1.3, SD = 2.0, p < .01). Maternal ACE score was positively related to children’s ACE score after controlling for sociodemographic variables. Given the intergenerational nature of ACEs and their high burden in both mothers and children in substance use treatment, these preliminary findings suggest that mother–child trauma-informed interventions may be appropriate for this population.
KW - adverse childhood experiences
KW - maternal substance use
KW - substance use treatment
UR - https://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/commhealth_facpubs/110
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85116157683&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101571
DO - 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101571
M3 - Article
C2 - 34976635
VL - 24
SP - 101571
JO - Preventive Medicine Reports
JF - Preventive Medicine Reports
M1 - 101571
ER -