Early Adverse Childhood Experiences and Self-Control Development among Youth in Fragile Families. Issue 5 (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, Melissa S.; Pierce, Hayley; Chapple, Constance L.
• Is Part Of: Youth & society. Volume 54:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 806
• Page End: 832
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: adverse childhood experiences -- self-control -- impulsivity -- life course perspective; Youth -- Periodicals; 305.235
• DOI: 10.1177/0044118X21996378
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-118X

Abstract

Though considerable research links both a lack of self-control and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to a variety of negative health and behavioral outcomes, few studies to date have explored whether ACEs are associated with deficits in self-control. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCW; n = 3, 444) and a life course theoretical framework, this study aims to address this gap in the literature by examining the relationships between individual ACEs, cumulative ACEs, timing of ACEs, and durations of early ACEs and self-control development among youth. Our results indicate that as the number of ACEs (by age 5) experienced incrementally increases, the likelihood of reported self-control decreases. Moreover, when it comes to the timing and duration of ACE exposure, ACEs that are high but late, intermittent, or chronically high significantly decrease self-control. Based on our findings, researchers should continue to explore the role of ACEs in youth self-control development.