(PS6-45) Does Resilience Moderate the Relationship Between Caregiver Behaviors and Post-traumatic Symptoms in Young Adults?

Exposure to a potentially traumatic event (PTE) is not an uncommon experience for children and adolescents. After exposure to stressful and adverse events (e.g., physical abuse, natural disaster), impacted youth may experience several outcomes, including posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). However, most youth evidence a resilient post-trauma trajectory. Given differential trajectories, scholars continue investigating potential risk and protective factors that might contribute to youth post- trauma adjustment.

Considering their critical role in children’s development, caregivers also likely play a role in children’s post-trauma adjustment. Further, resilience might be an important factor that could influence how children respond to stress and their caregiver environment. While research suggests youth resilience could be influenced by caregiver behaviors, others find resilience to be more trait-like and stable over time (e.g., Kovács et al., 2022; Kritzas & Grobler, 2005). The field lacks studies on caregiver practices following youth trauma exposure, as well as studies centering children’s experiences (i.e., what caregiver factors youth perceive as helpful or harmful in their adjustment). Lacking also is an understanding of how resilience influences the relations between caregiver practices and youth post-PTE adjustment.

Using a cross-sectional approach, our study had several aims: 1) To examine whether (and how) retrospective reports of perceived caregiver behaviors (e.g., support, discipline, warmth) during childhood predicted young adults’ current PTSS. 2) To explore the potential moderating role of resilience on the relation between caregiver behaviors and participants’ PTSS. We hypothesize that: a) young adults from minoritized racial/ethnic backgrounds will report highest PTSS rates; b) negative caregiver practices (e.g., inconsistent discipline, poor monitoring) will positively predict PTSS; c) positive caregiver practices (e.g., involvement) will negatively predict PTSS; and d) resilience will moderate the relation between caregiver practices and PTSS (e.g., higher resilience will mitigate the effects of negative caregiver practices on PTSS scores).

The study has been IRB-approved and data collection is ongoing. Undergraduate students across universities are being recruited (e.g., flyers, online research portal, social media). Eligibility includes: 18 years or older; English fluency; self-reported exposure to at least one PTE; and signed consent. Consent and surveys are accessed via Qualtrics. Measures include: a) demographics; b) trauma exposure (LEC); c) caregiver post-PTE practices (adapted APQ for trauma); d) resilience (CD-RISC); and d) PTSS (PCL-5). Data will be analyzed using SPSS v29 and PROCESS macro; and will be screened for missingness and assumptions. Bivariate correlations, hierarchical multiple regressions, and moderation analyses will be conducted. Key demographic factors will be entered as covariates.

Results and implications will be discussed. Understanding the links amongst variables (parenting practices, resilience, PTSS) may inform screening and intervention efforts for youth and families, especially those exposed to early PTEs.