Resilience in the aftermath of trauma: Classes of adjustment in at-risk youth.

Objective: Youth who have been exposed to potentially traumatic events are at risk of developing chronic and severe adjustment problems. However, some youth exposed to potentially traumatic events exhibit better-than-expected adaptation. Person-centered analyses, based on multiple criteria for adaptive behavior and adversity, are well-suited to empirically identifying different patterns of adaptation among high-risk youth.

Method: Data from 381 youth from three at-risk subgroups in Portugal were collected using self-reported measures of trauma history, trauma-related symptomatology, coping skills, and perceived social support. Distinct classes of adaptation after traumatic experiences were examined with latent class analysis.

Results: Four classes were identified: (a) class (13.6%), (b) class (36.8%), (c) class (11.4%), and (d) class (38.2%). Trauma-related psychopathology class and class were characterized by high levels of maladjustment. Similarly to the class, the - psychopathology class reported a significantly higher likelihood of trauma-related psychopathology and higher levels of problem-solving skills. The class and class also reported lower levels of maladjustment, and the class reported higher levels of coping skills and lower levels of externalizing problems than any other class.

Conclusion: Clinicians treating children's internalizing mental health or externalizing behavior problems should assess trauma history and trauma-related psychopathology, as well as protective resources that may enhance resilience such as skills for problem solving and social support seeking. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).