Predictors of crosscutting patterns of psychological health and family maltreatment
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Nichols, S. R., Rhoades, K. A., Lorber, M. F., Xu, S., Heyman, R. E., & Slep, A. M. (2023). Predictors of crosscutting patterns of psychological health and family maltreatment. Military Medicine, 188(9-10), 3134–3142. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usac173
Abstract Created by REACH:
A previous study identified 6 profiles (i.e., groups) of Airmen based on their internalizing (e.g., depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms) and externalizing (e.g., family maltreatment, hazardous drinking) behaviors. 5 profiles were characterized by similar levels of internalizing and externalizing behaviors, each increasing in severity (i.e., very low, low, moderate, high, and very high internalizing and externalizing risk), and 1 was characterized by extremely high levels of externalizing behaviors only. This cross-sectional study was positioned to identify predictors, both risk and protective factors, associated with the 6 profiles. Airmen from 2 independent samples (N = 26,590; N = 30,100) reported 18 risk and protective factors across 6 domains (i.e., personal and family adjustment, community functioning, economic well-being, physical well-being, spiritual well-being, and community safety), as well as their internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Overall, personal and family adjustment and physical well-being domains were the strongest differentiators between profiles.
Focus:
Couples
Mental health
Child maltreatment
Children
Parents
Branch of Service:
Air Force
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Subject Affiliation:
Active duty service member
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Methodology:
Cross-Sectional Study
Quantitative Study
Secondary Analysis
Authors:
Nichols, Sara R., Rhoades, Kimberly A., Lorber, Michael F., Xu, Shu, Heyman, Richard E., Slep, Amy M.
Abstract:
Psychological problems and family maltreatment are significant public health problems. Although research focuses almost exclusively on either individual psychological problems or family maltreatment, there is substantial co-occurrence of these problems. Similarly, intervention services are often “siloed”: individuals with mental health needs are referred for mental health services, individuals with family conflict are referred for family-based treatment, etc. These treatment “silos” may miss the larger picture of the co-occurrence of risk, promotion, and the problems themselves. In a previous paper, we used latent class analysis to identify subgroups of individuals with crosscutting patterns (i.e., classes) of psychological and family maltreatment problems. In this study, we explored the predictors of these latent classes.Participants consisted of two large population samples of U.S. Air Force active duty members (ns = 27,895 and 30,841) who were married or cohabiting and had one or more children living in their household. Participants completed an anonymous community assessment survey, which included questionnaire items tapping personal, family, and community problems and well-being. Assessments were conducted in 2008 and 2011. All study procedures were approved by the authors’ Institutional Review Board. We used exploratory factor analysis and latent class analysis to (1) identify higher-order factors of risk and promotive variables and (2) examine them as predictors of our previously identified latent classes.Findings indicated that individuals who reported better physical well-being as well as personal and family coping, relationship satisfaction, and support were more likely to be in the lowest-risk subgroup. Notably, individuals in the subgroup most at risk for serious violence and suicide, evidencing disinhibitory psychopathology, endorsed lower risk and higher promotive factors than those individuals in other high-risk subgroups who fell along the internalizing/externalizing continuum.These findings reinforce the need for integrated prevention and treatment of psychological and family maltreatment problems. Not only do these problems often co-occur, but their risk and promotive factors also tend to be intertwined. The unique (i.e., not on the continuum of the other five classes) problem profile of participants evidencing disinhibitory psychopathology is matched by a unique risk/promotive factor profile, and they will thus likely require a unique intervention approach.
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Featured Research
Keywords:
family maltreatment, psychological health, predictors
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
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