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Rates of Recent Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Indigenous Children

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Abstract

The current paper describes rates of recent (past six months) adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and examines the association of ACEs with cultural connection and depressive symptoms among Indigenous children aged 10 to 14 (N = 177; mean age = 11.8; 48.3% boys; 44.3% girls; 7.4% another gender identity). Children completed baseline surveys as part of a larger evaluation of a culturally grounded, strengths-focused, family-based program to prevent ACEs. Surveys included an inclusive measure of ACEs developed for the current study, an adapted measure of connection to culture, and the Children’s Depression Screener. Results for ACEs indicated that 18.6% of Indigenous children reported none, 37.2% reported one to three, and 44.2% reported four or more in the past six months. Importantly, children who reported no ACEs reported greater cultural connection than children who reported one to three ACEs. Depressive symptoms were higher among children who reported one to three and four or more ACEs compared to children who reported no ACEs.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the project staff, members of the Advisory Board, and caregivers and children who participated in this project. Without each of you, this work would not have been possible. Wopila Tanka. Thank you to Taha Ahmar Qadeer and Sergiu-Mihai Caivoi who edited this manuscript.

Funding

Funding for this project was provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, OSP 51437, OSP form #133283; Grant number R01CE003190 to Dr. Katie Edwards.

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  1. Bennington College, 1 College Drive, Bennington, VT, 05201, USA

    Emily A. Waterman

  2. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1400 R. St, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA

    Katie M. Edwards, Ramona Herrington, Skyler Hopfauf, Preciouse Trujllo, Naomi Even-Aberle & Lorey Wheeler

  3. North Dakota State University, 1340 Administration Ave, Fargo, ND, 58105, USA

    Natira Mullet

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Waterman, E.A., Edwards, K.M., Mullet, N. et al. Rates of Recent Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Indigenous Children. Journ Child Adol Trauma (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-023-00587-1

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