Adverse childhood experiences and cognitive self-regulation: Findings from a non-clinical sample of Canadian adolescents

Objectives: Although global aspects of social well-being have been linked to cognitive-behavioural self-regulation in children and youth, few studies have examined the more specific association between adverse childhood... [ view full abstract ]

Objectives: Although global aspects of social well-being have been linked to cognitive-behavioural self-regulation in children and youth, few studies have examined the more specific association between adverse childhood experiences (ACES) and cognitive self-regulation in adolescents. Thus, the present study assesses the association between ACES and core aspects of cognitive self-regulation (including planning, reasoning, attention and working memory) in a non-clinical sample of Canadian adolescents.

Method: Data are from the pre-test of a randomized controlled trial of the Fourth R: Healthy Relationships Plus Program, and were collected in June-July 2014 from 212 adolescents aged 14-16 in Southwestern Ontario (67.0% female, 75.9% White). Cognitive functioning was assessed using an online battery that measures distinct working memory, reasoning, and attentional processes. ACES were assessed using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study survey. Based on previous research findings showing the adverse health outcomes associated with ≥4 ACES, sum scores were dichotomized for the present analyses (1=≥4 ACES; 0=≤3 ACES). Data were analyzed using linear regression models controlling for IQ, SES, pubertal development, age and sex.

Results: 18.3% of participants had experienced ≥4 ACES. In multivariate models, participants who had experienced ≥4 ACES had significantly poorer performance on tasks tapping working memory than participants with ≤3 ACES (p=.019). There was no association with reasoning or attentional processes.

Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate a specific association between adversity and cognitive aspects of self-regulation, by showing that adverse childhood experiences, including maltreatment, are associated with lower working memory scores in mid-adolescence. Future studies should investigate how early adversity impacts this self-regulation, through possible effects on the calibration of the HPA-axis and related neural circuitry. Since cognitive-behavioural self-regulation is a robust longitudinal predictor of academic achievement, social adjustment and health behaviours, as well as overall social well-being, implications of these findings for adolescent adjustment and prevention strategies will be discussed.