Adverse childhood experiences, positive childhood experiences, suicidal thoughts or behaviors and psychological distress among Kenyan youth-an exploratory analysis of the 2019 Kenya Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS)

IF 3.4 2区心理学 Q1 FAMILY STUDIES Child Abuse & Neglect Pub Date : 2025-06-01 Epub Date: 2025-04-19 DOI:10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107470

Colvette Brown , Ezeigwe Ogochukwu , Stanley Nkemjika , Caroline Kambona , Laura Chiang , Francis B. Annor

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Abstract

Background

Early childhood experiences, whether positive or adverse, significantly impact health across the lifespan. Children and youth in low-resource settings face unique challenges that increase their vulnerability to poor mental health.

Objective

To examine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and suicidal thoughts or behaviors as well as psychological distress, and to explore the moderating role of parent-related positive childhood experiences (PPCEs) on this association.

Participant and setting

We used data from the 2019 Kenya Violence Against Children and Youth Survey.

Methods

Analyses were restricted to youth ages 18–24. ACEs were dichotomized (into those who have experienced at least one ACEs and those who have not), and logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between ACEs, PPCEs, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors and psychological distress stratified by sex.

Results

Significantly more males (75.8 %) than females (57.6 %) experienced at least 1 ACE in their lifetime (p = 0.0003). PPCEs are common; however, significantly more males (59.9 %) than females (41.2 %) had a strong father-child relationship (p = 0.0003). ACEs were positively associated with suicidal thoughts or behaviors and psychological distress, with notable sex-specific differences in the associations. Conversely, PPCEs were negatively associated with those outcomes, but there were also sex-specific differences in the associations. No significant interaction effect was observed between ACEs, PPCEs, and the mental health outcomes.

Conclusion

Suicidal thoughts or behaviors and psychological distress are pervasive problems that are common among youth in Kenya, and the associations with ACEs vary by sex. A multilevel approach and evidenced-based intervention strategies that consider the context of sociocultural norms are crucial to prevention and response efforts.

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肯尼亚青少年的不良童年经历、积极童年经历、自杀念头或行为和心理困扰——对2019年肯尼亚暴力侵害儿童和青少年调查（VACS）的探索性分析

童年经历，无论是积极的还是消极的，都会对一生的健康产生重大影响。资源匮乏环境中的儿童和青年面临着独特的挑战，使他们更容易受到精神健康状况不佳的影响。目的探讨不良童年经历（ace）与自杀念头或行为及心理困扰的关系，并探讨父母相关的积极童年经历（PPCEs）在这一关系中的调节作用。参与者和背景我们使用了2019年肯尼亚暴力侵害儿童和青年调查的数据。方法分析对象为18-24岁的青少年。将ace分为至少经历过一次ace和没有经历过ace的两类，并采用逻辑回归方法按性别分层检验ace、ppce与自杀念头或行为和心理困扰之间的关系。结果男性（75.8%）比女性（57.6%）在其一生中至少经历过一次ACE （p = 0.0003）。ppce很常见；然而，男性（59.9%）比女性（41.2%）有更强的父子关系（p = 0.0003）。ace与自杀念头或行为和心理困扰呈正相关，且存在显著的性别差异。相反，ppce与这些结果呈负相关，但也存在性别特异性差异。在ace、ppce和心理健康结果之间没有观察到显著的交互作用。结论自杀念头或行为和心理困扰是肯尼亚青少年普遍存在的问题，与ace的关系因性别而异。考虑到社会文化规范背景的多层次方法和基于证据的干预战略对预防和应对工作至关重要。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Child Abuse & Neglect Multiple-

CiteScore

7.40

自引率

10.40%

发文量

397

期刊介绍： Official Publication of the International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. Child Abuse & Neglect The International Journal, provides an international, multidisciplinary forum on all aspects of child abuse and neglect, with special emphasis on prevention and treatment; the scope extends further to all those aspects of life which either favor or hinder child development. While contributions will primarily be from the fields of psychology, psychiatry, social work, medicine, nursing, law enforcement, legislature, education, and anthropology, the Journal encourages the concerned lay individual and child-oriented advocate organizations to contribute.