IMPACT OF ADOLESCENT TRAUMA ON SENSE OF PURPOSE IN MIDDLE-TO-LATE ADULTHOOD. (16th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pfund, G; Edmonds, G; Hill, P
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 2(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 939
• Page End: 939
• Publication Date: 2018-11-16
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy031.3488
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: Previous research has found that early experiences can uniquely impact later in life outcomes. However, work is needed to understand how different forms of adolescent adversity influence later purpose development. This research evaluates the impact of different kinds of adolescent trauma on later adulthood sense of purpose. Trauma and sense of purpose were assessed using the Brief Betrayal Trauma Survey (Goldberg & Freyd, 2006) the Life Engagement Test (Scheier et al., 2006) respectively. Existing data comes from the Hawaii Longitudinal Study of Personality and Health. Participants (n = 545) retrospectively reported three kinds of trauma during adolescence: 1) non-betrayal trauma, such as a natural disaster; 2) low betrayal trauma, such as being abused by a stranger; and 3) high betrayal trauma, such as being abused by a relative. Approximately 10–15 years later, participants (M = 60.15, SD = 1.96) reported their sense of purpose. Pearson correlations were calculated between later adulthood sense of purpose, adolescent trauma types, and composite trauma scores. None of the negative effects of these correlations were significant. However, the effects differed when evaluating the three largest racial groups from the sample: Caucasians, Japanese, and Native Hawaiians. Sense of purpose and adolescent low betrayal trauma (r(222) = -.196, p = .003), high betrayal trauma (r(222) = -.139, p = .038), and composite trauma scores (r(222) = -.214, p = .001) were all significantly related for only the Japanese participants. We will discuss the ways in which early in life experiences differentially impact purpose development across groups.