Journal article
Understanding the Association Between Neighborhood Resources and Trauma‐Informed Care Among Providers Who Serve Autistic Youth
Autism research
03 Feb 2025
PMID: 39901490
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
A growing body of literature suggests that youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), herein, autistic youth, face an increased risk of being exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). However, trauma‐informed approaches to care among autistic youth remain limited. In a large cross‐sectional survey of ASD providers ( N = 670) recruited from five U.S. locations, we examined the association between neighborhood resources using the Child Opportunity Index (i.e., educational, health/environmental, and social/economic opportunities) and the frequency at which providers engaged in trauma‐informed care (i.e., inquire about, screen for, treat, and provide referrals for trauma diagnosis and treatment) and the types of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) they screen for (i.e., maltreatment/neglect and household dysfunction). The latent model revealed that providers in neighborhoods with fewer resources engaged in more trauma‐informed care and were more likely to screen for ACEs related to household dysfunction. Follow‐up exploratory analyses indicated that providers in the lowest 20% of opportunity neighborhoods made the greatest efforts in trauma screening for maltreatment and household dysfunction, followed closely by those in the lowest 40%, compared to higher‐opportunity areas. Sensitivity analyses, controlling for potential nesting effects, confirmed similar results. These findings may suggest a concerted effort to ensure that autistic youth in highly disadvantaged areas receive adequate trauma screening. However, lower screening rates in higher‐resourced neighborhoods may mean trauma‐exposed autistic youth in these areas are overlooked. Expanding provider training to emphasize trauma inquiry across all neighborhoods could help address this gap. Limitations, implications for policy and practice, and future directions are discussed.
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Details
- Title
- Understanding the Association Between Neighborhood Resources and Trauma‐Informed Care Among Providers Who Serve Autistic Youth
- Creators
- Daneele Thorpe (Corresponding Author) - Stony Brook UniversityConnor M. Kerns - University of British ColumbiaLauren J. Moskowitz - St. John's UniversityAmy Drahota - Michigan State UniversityMatthew Lerner - Stony Brook University
- Publication Details
- Autism research
- Publisher
- Wiley; HOBOKEN
- Number of pages
- 17
- Grant note
- Simons Foundation
This work was supported by Adelphi University Center for Health Innovation, Pershing Charitable Trust, the Brian Wright Memorial Autism Fund, and by funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (K23HD087472 [PI: Kerns]), Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (PI: Kerns, SCH- 2021- 1709), Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI #38787), National Institute of Mental Health (K01MH093477 [PI: Drahota], R01MH110585 [PI: Lerner]), and the Simons Foundation (SFARI# 381283; PI: Lerner).
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001411806700001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85217553409
- Other Identifier
- 991022025012004721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Behavioral Sciences
- Psychology, Developmental