Abstract
Introduction: Previous research has reported that parental exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is a strong risk factor for the subsequent development of externalizing behaviors and depressive symptomatology in their children. The associations between parental exposure to ACEs and youth externalizing and depressive symptomatology have not been investigated in Hispanic families. Additionally, previous studies have utilized an ACE sum score. Although widely used, this approach assumes an additive relationship between the number of ACEs an individual is exposed to and the outcome under investigation, demonstrating both methodological and conceptual limitations. This study expands on the existing literature about the impact of ACEs through the application of latent class analysis (LCA) to examine whether classes of parental ACEs differentially influence youth externalizing and depressive symptomatology in Hispanic adolescents. Furthermore, this study examined whether parental depressive symptomatology and family functioning mediate and the association between parental exposure to ACEs and risky health outcomes. Methods: This secondary analysis utilized longitudinal data from an ongoing randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of an online parenting intervention for Hispanic adolescents. The sample consisted of 231 parents and their adolescents between the ages of 12-16 assigned to the control condition. The analytic strategy for this study involved: First, an LCA was utilized to identify ACE classes present within the sample. Second, structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to estimate direct associations between classes of parental ACEs with externalizing and depressive symptomatology in their youth. Finally, SEM was utilized to examine whether the latent construct of family functioning and parent depressive symptomatology indirectly explained or mediated this relationship. Results: Results of the LCA identified two classes of parental ACE exposure: Multiple Exposure to Adversity During Childhood (16.5%), and Low Exposure to Adversity During Childhood - Disrupted Family Structure (83.5%). Additionally, results of the SEM indicate that family functioning significantly mediated the association between parental ACE classification and adolescent externalizing behaviors. Discussion & Conclusions: Understanding the impact of distinct combinations of ACEs and their association with family functioning, as well as their impact on youth externalizing behaviors, may inform prevention strategies prioritizing trauma-informed interventions for the individuals and their families who report the most problematic combinations of ACEs, such as parental separation, psychological abuse, and exposure to household substance abuse.