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Article
Trauma, Adversity, and Parent-Child Relationships Among Young Children Experiencing Homelessness
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology (2014)
  • Janette E. Herbers, Villanova University
  • J. J. Cutuli
  • Amy R. Monn, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
  • Angela J. Narayan, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
  • Ann S. Masten, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Abstract
This study examined experiences of adversity and potentially traumatic life events among 138 young children (56% female) residing with their families in emergency housing. Experiences of these children were examined from a developmental perspective, testing the impact of cumulative adversity on trauma symptoms, other emotional/behavior problems, and executive functioning in relation to the quality of observed parent-child interactions. Cumulative adversity was related to children’s trauma symptoms and total problem scores. Quality of observed parent-child interactions related to fewer child symptoms, congruent with a promotive role. Quality of parent-child interactions also moderated the associations between adversity and both specific trauma symptoms and broad emotional/behavior problems, consistent with an expected protective effect. Parenting quality was generally associated with better child executive functioning, consistent with a promotive rather than a protective effect among homeless children. Findings are discussed in the context of family homelessness, including chronic poverty and acute or ongoing adversity.
Keywords
  • trauma,
  • family homelessness,
  • parent-child relationships,
  • behavior problems,
  • executive functioning
Publication Date
2014
Citation Information
Herbers, Janette E., Cutuli, J. J., Monn, Amy R., Narayan, Angela J., & Masten, Ann S. (in press). Trauma, Adversity, and Parent-Child Relationships among Young Children Experiencing Homelessness. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. doi: 10.1007/s10802-014-9868-7