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Sex Differences in Links Between Trauma Experiences and Internalizing Problems Among Detained Youth
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Abstract
Potentially Traumatic Events (PTEs) are stressful life experiences (e.g., economic hardship, abuse, neglect, exposure to violence) often associated with psychosocial dysfunction (Felitti et al., 1998). For instance, extant research has linked different forms of trauma exposure to internalizing problems, including anxiety and depression (Joshi et al., 2021; Dierkhising et al., 2013). Although the ties between trauma and internalizing problems has been well established, the mechanisms underlying this connection remain unclear. Evidence suggests biological sex may differentially impact exposure to PTEs and the associated outcomes, with females reporting higher cumulative trauma and more internalizing symptoms than males (Stewart et al., 2020; Liu et al., 2023). However, the potential for sex differences to moderate links between internalizing problems and PTEs has yet to be examined among justice-involved youth (Flocks et al., 2016). Research on pathways through which PTEs are associated with internalizing problems is particularly important in detained youth, as they face heightened risk for PTEs, anxiety, and depression compared to youth in the general population (Conrad et al., 2017).
The current study examined: (a) the associations between PTEs, anxiety, and depression among detained youth, and (b) whether these associations vary in strength by sex. Participants were 237 detained youth (79.8% male, 37.2% White, Mage = 14.8 years) who self-reported on PTEs (Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen; Sachser et al., 2017), anxiety (PROMIS Pediatric Anxiety Scale; Irwin et al., 2010), and depression (Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire; Messer et al., 1995) symptoms. Linear regression models evaluated the aforementioned network of relations, including first-order effects and interactions between PTEs and sex. Data on pertinent demographic variables (age, race, ethnicity, facility, and detainment duration) were collected and controlled for in the analyses.
T-test analyses indicated that male detainees report significantly fewer PTEs (M = 4.95 v 6.30, p < .05) and anxiety symptoms (M = 1.13 v 1.58, p < .01) than females. Correlation analyses revealed that PTEs were significantly associated with biological sex (r = .15, p < .05), race/ethnicity (r = .17, p < .01), anxiety (r = .25, p < .001), and depression (r = .30, p < .001). First-order effects show that PTEs were independently linked to anxiety (B = .06, SE = .02, p < .001) and depression (B = .08, SE = .02, p < .001). Moreover, biological sex was independently linked to anxiety (B = .47, SE = .17, p < .01). However, the strength of the associations between PTEs and either internalizing problem of interest did not differ by sex (ps = .455 to .526).
These findings underscore the robust associations between PTEs and internalizing problems among detained youth. The results confirm that detained females report higher levels of PTEs and anxiety compared to their male counterparts, aligning with prior research suggesting sex differences in trauma exposure and internalizing symptomatology. However, the lack of significant moderation by sex suggests that, despite females' heightened vulnerability, the pathways linking trauma to anxiety and depression may operate similarly across sexes within this population. These results have critical implications for intervention and policy, emphasizing the need for universal trauma-informed care practices in juvenile justice settings that address both shared and unique risk factors.
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These are the slides from a presentation given at Anxiety and Depression Association of America 2025 Conference on 04/05/2025.
Date
2025-04-05
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University of Kansas
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This item contains archived web content.
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BainsJ_2025.pdf
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Keywords
Anxiety, Depression, Childhood Trauma