The relationships between emerging adult transition themes, adverse childhood experiences, and substance use patterns among a community cohort of Hispanics.

Background: Emerging adulthood (ages 18–26) is a time of identity exploration, experimentation, focusing on self or others, and instability, themes captured in the Inventory of Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA). Preliminary evidence suggests that emerging adults (EAs) with a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) score differently on transition dimensions than their peers, however, the role of ACE in the IDEA–substance use relationship is unknown. Method: Data are from a longitudinal study of acculturation and health among Hispanics in California (N = 1,065). Multivariable regression models assessed the association between IDEA and ACE (no ACE, 1–3 ACE, and ≥ 4 ACE) for substance use behaviors over 2 time points. Interaction terms assessed whether ACE moderated the association between subjective perceptions of IDEA at age 20 and substance use at age 24. Results: ACE-exposed EAs scored higher on identity exploration, instability, self-focus, and experimentation dimensions than their peers (ps

Source: Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology - August 29, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research