Research Objectives
Risk and protective factors operating between technology-mediated abuse (cyber IPV) and mental health disparities in Hispanic and LGBTQIA+ emerging adults
Cyber intimate partner violence (cyber IPV) constitutes a manifestation of interpersonal violence that has emerged in tandem with the proliferation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Over the past two decades, ICTs, encompassing social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, instant text messaging, blogs and forums, mobile devices, and electronic mail, have provided channels for psychological, sexual, and stalking aggression against intimate partners. The prevalence of cyber IPV, inclusive of psychological, sexual, and stalking variants, stands at a noteworthy range of 20% to 70% among emerging adults aged 18-29 years.
Consistent with prior research, our own investigations involving Hispanic and LGBTQIA+ emerging adults corroborate the association between different types of cyber IPV and heightened symptoms of depression and alcohol use (Charak et al., 2019; Cantu & Charak, 2020; Cano-Gonzalez, Charak et al., 2020; Trujillo, Charak et al., 2020).
Expanding on this foundational work, the overarching goal of the ACT lab is to delve into the risk factors (e.g., exposure to parental violence, emotion dysregulation) and protective factors (e.g., cognitive reappraisal) associated with cyber IPV, which can either exacerbate or mitigate mental health outcomes. Within the Hispanic population, which faces an elevated risk of IPV, our research explores the influence of cultural factors intertwined with cyber IPV.
In collaboration with interdisciplinary teams comprising engineers and scholars from anthropology and gender and women studies, we harness cutting-edge statistical and mathematical models, including machine learning-generated algorithms, to gauge the predictability of risk and protective factors associated with cyber IPV. Concurrently, in partnership with researchers at Orebro University (Sweden) and Aarhus University (Denmark), we are proposing the examination of interventions and educational programs designed to counteract the impact of both cyber and in-person stalking.
Are minoritized LGBTQIA+ emerging adults at an increased risk of interpersonal trauma and mental health disparities especially during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Research studies have consistently shown that LGBTQIA+ individuals face an elevated risk of exposure to childhood adversities and intimate partner violence when compared to their heterosexual counterparts. This in turn contributes to mental health disparities.
In light of this, the core objective of the ACT lab is to conduct an in-depth analysis of the patterns of adverse childhood experiences and intimate partner violence, with a particular emphasis on their distinct associations with mental health outcomes. Our research extends across multiple collaborations with esteemed researchers from institutions such as Oklahoma State University, the University of Wyoming, the University of Texas at Austin, and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Madrid, Spain).
What is the validity of the Developmental Trauma Disorder in children/adolescents?
Evidence from various studies indicate that the impact of trauma is most profound during the initial decade of life (van der Kolk, Ford, & Spinazzola, 2019). Children who endure multiple traumatic events and polyvictimization often exhibit developmental delays and tend to receive diagnoses encompassing multiple 'comorbid' mental disorders. In many such instances, children and adolescents may exhibit resistance to psychotherapy and may undergo expensive and fragmented multi-component treatments. An assessment of transdiagnostic posttraumatic symptoms could potentially serve as a more comprehensive and streamlined approach for both prevention and treatment in children and youth who receive multiple diagnoses (D'Andrea, Ford, Stolbach, Spinazzola, & van der Kolk, 2012; Musicaro et al., 2019).
Developmental trauma disorder (DTD) has been formulated as a transdiagnostic psychiatric syndrome specifically tailored to address the substantial clinical population of children with histories of traumatic victimization, such as maltreatment, exploitation, violence, and disrupted attachment bonding with primary caregivers.
Through collaborative efforts with researchers from the University of Connecticut Medical Center, Ulster University (Northern Ireland), and Edinburgh Napier University (Scotland), the ACT lab is conducting an investigation into the patterns of PTSD and DTD symptoms within a sample of treatment-seeking children and adolescents who have been exposed to multiple types of traumas. This research initiative also includes an exploration of the factor structure of DTD.
Does exposure to multiple types of childhood adversities or polyvictimization lead to mental health disparities?
A substantial body of research indicates that exposure to childhood adversity, encompassing experiences such as physical abuse or neglect, can exert a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of individuals across the lifespan. Many of these studies have traditionally focused on the assessment of one or two specific forms of maltreatment, despite the frequent co-occurrence of different types of maltreatment, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. The cumulative effect of these multiple adversities on psychological wellbeing is substantial.
As a result, a primary objective of the ACT lab is to investigate various patterns of maltreatment and other forms of childhood adversities, including polyvictimization. Our research aim is to elucidate the distinct relationships between these patterns and both short- and long-term mental and behavioral health outcomes. This includes the examination of psychological problems such as personality pathology, suicidal behavior, and polysubstance use. We employ advanced statistical techniques, specifically latent class/profile analysis, to discern and understand different patterns of maltreatment and how each pattern of exposure diverges from others with regard to their impact on wellbeing. Our investigations have thus far extended to adolescents from diverse regions, including India, the Netherlands, the United States, and Burundi, as well as children and adolescents in the United States.
More recently, our focus has shifted towards exploring the interplay of risk and protective factors within the context of patterns of maltreatment and their influence on mental health outcomes. Through our research, we aspire to identify the specific maltreatment patterns that render certain individuals more susceptible to adversity. Ultimately, our work aims to inform the development of preventative strategies and treatment approaches geared towards alleviating the distress experienced by victim-survivors.
Why is Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) comorbid with other mental disorders?
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was introduced into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1980. Over the past four decades, the diagnosis and classification of PTSD have undergone notable revisions primarily due to its consistent comorbidity with other pre-existing mental disorders. The exploration of this comorbidity between mental disorders is of paramount importance as it engenders functional impairments, chronicity, delayed responses to treatment interventions, and an overall heightened burden of illness.
In alignment with these concerns, a central objective of the ACT lab is to rigorously investigate the co-occurrence (comorbidity) of PTSD with various other mental disorders, including but not limited to substance use disorders, mood disorders, and persistent complex bereavement disorder. Employing advanced statistical analyses, such as latent variable modeling, we seek to delineate and comprehend the associations between PTSD and these other mental health conditions.
Through our research endeavors, we aspire to offer valuable insights into the underlying symptoms that concurrently manifest across different mental disorders. Our findings are expected to contribute to enhancing diagnostic precision, symptom reliability, and the capacity for differential diagnosis in clinical practice and research.
Can the quality of sibling relationship act as risk or protective factors?
One significant familial relationship often overlooked in the realm of family systems research is the dynamic between siblings. The sibling relationship is enduring, substantial, and frequently the longest-lasting connection throughout an individual's lifespan. It also represents one of the initial relationships with contemporaries, laying the foundation for future interactions with peers and intimate partners. Recent research is shedding light on the detrimental effects of sibling aggression on a child's psychological well-being (e.g., Duncan, 1999; Tucker et al., 2014).
Our primary objective is to assess the prevalence of sibling aggression experienced by children and adolescents, with a particular focus on how it may contribute to problematic behaviors. In addition, one of the key objectives of the ACT lab is to explore the role of sibling relationship quality as a supportive mechanism in mitigating the adverse consequences of exposure to adversity among children and adolescents.