Predicting Adolescent Adaptive Functioning from Childhood Trauma: Model Using Framework of Erikson's Psychosocial Developmental Theory

Exposure to trauma during childhood can trigger a multitude of physiological, neurological, emotional, and psychological problems. These problems can manifest in developmental impairments, behavioral disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), depression, CD, and learning disorders including ADHD. Previous research has shown methodological limitations and inconsistencies in findings concerning history of childhood trauma and adaptive functioning. Amidst these findings, no study has utilized Erikson's theoretical framework to assess the adaptive functioning in adolescents that have experienced trauma. Erikson's theory is based on the concept that the development of enhanced adaptive functioning or maladaptive functioning is based on the level of support receive by the child from the parent/caregiver following traumatic experiences. The goal of this quantitative correlational study was to assess whether demographic variables and traumatic events predict adaptive functioning in 143 adolescent participants with and without history of trauma as children, and ADHD/ODD and other Axis I diagnoses. The criterion variable was adaptive functioning skills (VABS-II scores); the demographic variables are age, sex, ethnicity, support system, and diagnoses; and the predictive variables were the levels of trauma: frequency and severity. Correlations and multiple regressions analyses were utilized. The results of this study indicated that trauma frequency (none versus any) was not significantly related to adaptive functioning skills. Demographic variables and level of support system were statistically related to adaptive functioning skills in both adolescents with and without history of childhood trauma. Age was negatively correlated with adaptive functioning skills in both adolescents with and without history of childhood trauma. These findings advance understanding of the mechanisms through which these early adverse experiences alter adolescent development. In consideration of this study's findings and limitations, recommendation for future research include assessing the relationship between traumatic events, demographic variables, and adaptive functioning among several other population sets that represent proportionally diverse ethnic and racial groups and multiple socioeconomic classes.