Twelve dichotomous CAs occurring before age 18 were assessed in the NCS-R. Selection of CAs was based on our reading of the literature. These include three types of interpersonal loss (parental death, parental divorce, other separation from parents or caregivers), four types of parental maladjustment (mental illness, substance abuse, criminality, violence), three types of maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect), and two other CAs (life-threatening respondent childhood physical illness, extreme childhood family economic adversity). The measures of parental death, divorce, and other separation (e.g., respondent foster care placement) focus only on biological parents, not step-parents or other caregivers. Respondents who were born to a single mother and never experienced any further disruption of this parenting arrangement were coded as not experiencing any parental separation. We did not include information about number of caregiver disruptions (e.g., multiple divorces) or separations (e.g., multiple foster care placements), but rather coded respondents dichotomously as having any versus no such disruptions because the rarity of multiple disruptions made estimates of dose-response relationships unstable.
Parental criminality, family economic adversity, and sexual abuse were assessed with short question series developed for the baseline NCS.10 (link) Parental criminality was assessed with questions about whether a parent either engaged in criminal activities like burglary or selling stolen property or was ever arrested for criminal activity. Economic adversity was assessed with questions about whether the family received welfare or other government assistance and whether the family often lacked enough money to pay for basic necessities of living. Sexual abuse was assessed with questions about repeated fondling, attempted rape, or rape. Parental mental illness (major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, antisocial personality disorder) and substance abuse were assessed with the Family History Research Diagnostic Criteria (FHRDC) Interview27 and its extensions.28 (link) Family violence and physical abuse of the respondent by parents were assessed with a modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scale.29 Neglect was assessed with questions used in studies of child welfare about frequency of not having adequate food, clothing, or medical care, having inadequate supervision, and having to do age-inappropriate chores.30 Life-threatening physical illness, finally, was assessed with a standard chronic conditions checklist.31 (link)
Parental criminality, family economic adversity, and sexual abuse were assessed with short question series developed for the baseline NCS.10 (link) Parental criminality was assessed with questions about whether a parent either engaged in criminal activities like burglary or selling stolen property or was ever arrested for criminal activity. Economic adversity was assessed with questions about whether the family received welfare or other government assistance and whether the family often lacked enough money to pay for basic necessities of living. Sexual abuse was assessed with questions about repeated fondling, attempted rape, or rape. Parental mental illness (major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, antisocial personality disorder) and substance abuse were assessed with the Family History Research Diagnostic Criteria (FHRDC) Interview27 and its extensions.28 (link) Family violence and physical abuse of the respondent by parents were assessed with a modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scale.29 Neglect was assessed with questions used in studies of child welfare about frequency of not having adequate food, clothing, or medical care, having inadequate supervision, and having to do age-inappropriate chores.30 Life-threatening physical illness, finally, was assessed with a standard chronic conditions checklist.31 (link)
