TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2023//
TI  - Adverse childhood experiences and mental health among incarcerated women: self-esteem as a mediating mechanism
JO  - Child abuse and neglect
A1  - Annett, Jaxin
A1  - Tillson, Martha
A1  - Walker, Meghan
A1  - Webster, J. Matthew
A1  - Staton, Michele
SP  - e106486
EP  - e106486
VL  - 146
IS  - 
N2  - BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and mental health problems are interrelated. However, less is known about this relationship in incarcerated women and how self-esteem impacts this relationship. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between ACEs and mental health problems (traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety) in incarcerated women with opioid use disorder (OUD) and, the possible role of self-esteem as a mediator of the relationship. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Incarcerated women (N = 500) were randomly selected from eight Kentucky jails, screened for OUD, and interviewed by research staff. <br><br>METHODS: Regression analyses and mediation models were used to examine the relationship between ACEs, mental health, and self-esteem. <br><br>RESULTS: ACEs were positively correlated with present mental health problems (traumatic stress, r = 0.407, p < .001; depression, r = 0.177, p < .001; and anxiety, r = 0.213, p < .001) and negatively correlated with current self-esteem (r = -0.241, p < .001). Linear regression analyses established that ACEs and self-esteem were significantly related to all three mental health variables of interest. Additionally, self-esteem mediated the relationship between ACEs and mental health. <br><br>CONCLUSION: This study shows that incarcerated women's experiences with ACEs are significantly related to poor mental health. Self-esteem plays a critical role in this relationship.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0145-2134
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106486
ID  - ref1
ER  -