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Open Access 01-12-2020 | Research article

Does family communication moderate the association between adverse childhood experiences and emotional and behavioural problems?

Authors: Miriama Lackova Rebicova, Zuzana Dankulincova Veselska, Daniela Husarova, Daniel Klein, Andrea Madarasova Geckova, Jitse P. van Dijk, Sijmen A. Reijneveld

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and poor family support and communication can increase emotional and behavioural problems (EBP). Therefore, we assessed the association of difficult communication with mother and with father separately with both emotional and behavioural problems (EBP), and whether adolescents’ communication with mother and with father moderates the association of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) with the EBP of adolescents.

Methods

We used data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study conducted in 2018 in Slovakia, comprising 5202 adolescents aged from 11 to 15 (mean age 13.53; 49.3% boys). EBP were measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. We used generalized linear regression adjusted for age, gender and family affluence to explore the modification of the associations between ACE and EBP by communication (easy vs. difficult communication) with mother and father.

Results

Difficult communication or a complete lack of communication due to the absence of mother and father increased the probability of emotional (exp (b): 0.96, 95% CI: 0.92|1.00; and 0.95, 95% CI: 0.91|0.99, respectively) and also of behavioural problems (exp (b): 0.96, 95% CI: 0.92|1.00; and 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90|0.97, respectively). We found a statistically significant interaction of communication with father on the association of ACE with EBP, showing that the joint effects were less than multiplicative.

Conclusion

Difficult communication with mother and father is related to EBP among adolescents, and adolescents’ communication with father moderates the association of ACE with both emotional and behavioural problems among adolescents.

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Title: Does family communication moderate the association between adverse childhood experiences and emotional and behavioural problems?
Authors: Miriama Lackova Rebicova
Zuzana Dankulincova Veselska
Daniela Husarova
Daniel Klein
Andrea Madarasova Geckova
Jitse P. van Dijk
Sijmen A. Reijneveld
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09350-9

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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Does family communication moderate the association between adverse childhood experiences and emotional and behavioural problems?

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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