Traumatology, Vol 30(3), Sep 2024, 238-250; doi:10.1037/trm0000426
There is strong evidence that the experience of several adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is a risk factor for higher anxiety and depression symptoms severity among adolescents. Defense mechanisms may influence the link between exposure to ACEs and anxiety and depression symptoms severity. We analyzed the associations between direct and indirect exposure to ACEs and anxiety and depression symptoms in Kenyan adolescents and explored the mediating role of defense mechanisms in the associations between direct and indirect exposure to anxiety and depression symptoms severity. A sample of 475 Kenyan adolescents (M = 16.4; SD = 1.4) completed validated self-report questionnaires. Serial multiple mediation models were tested by conducting a structural equation modeling employing Preacher and Hayes’ (2008) procedures. Higher direct exposure to ACEs was related to higher levels of depression symptoms and higher indirect exposure to ACEs was related to higher levels of anxiety symptoms. Importantly, higher direct exposure to ACEs was significantly linked to high immature defense mechanisms levels, which in turn were linked with high anxiety and depression symptoms. High levels of immature defense mechanisms might aggravate anxiety and depression symptoms, which might be seen as a possible psychological distress mechanism subsequent to exposure to multiple ACES in African adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)