This study aims to examine the (a) prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among children in kinship care; (b) relationships between the number and type of ACEs and children’s internalizing and externalizing problems; and (c) moderating role of kinship caregivers’ mental health on the relationships between ACEs and children’s internalizing and externalizing problems. A sample of children in kinship care (N = 224) obtained from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II was used. Ordinary least squares regression models were conducted. Results indicated that neglect followed by parental substance abuse were found to be the most prevalent ACEs. Child neglect, sexual and emotional abuse, and parental substance abuse were significantly associated with child internalizing problems, whereas sexual and emotional abuse were significantly associated with child externalizing problems. The total number of ACEs and experiencing three or more ACEs were significantly associated with child externalizing problems. Kinship caregivers’ mental health significantly moderated the relationships between neglect, sexual abuse, and child internalizing problems. Caregiver’s mental health also moderated the relationships between emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, and children’s externalizing problems. Findings suggest the importance of addressing ACEs and the need for mental health services to both kinship caregivers and children in kinship care.

中文翻译：

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不良童年经历 (ACE) 对亲属照料儿童行为问题的负面影响：亲属照料者心理健康的保护作用

本研究旨在检查 (a) 亲属照料儿童中不良童年经历 (ACE) 的普遍程度；(b) ACE 的数量和类型与儿童内化和外化问题之间的关系；(c) 亲属照顾者的心理健康对 ACE 与儿童内化和外化问题之间的关系的调节作用。亲属照料儿童样本（N= 224) 使用了从全国儿童和青少年福祉调查 II 中获得的数据。进行了普通最小二乘回归模型。结果表明，父母滥用药物之后的忽视被发现是最普遍的 ACE。儿童忽视、性和情感虐待以及父母药物滥用与儿童内化问题显着相关，而性和情感虐待与儿童外化问题显着相关。ACE 总数和经历三个或更多 ACE 与儿童外化问题显着相关。亲属照顾者的心理健康显着缓和了忽视、性虐待和儿童内化问题之间的关系。看护者的心理健康也缓和了情绪和性虐待之间的关系，忽视和儿童的外化问题。调查结果表明解决 ACE 的重要性以及对亲属照顾者和亲属照顾儿童的心理健康服务的需求。