1.74 The Impacts of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) on Experiences of Polyvictimization in Children and Youth

Objectives: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure and is associated with various cognitive and behavioral difficulties. Polyvictimization (PV) is the exposure to multiple instances and types of victimization. This study sought to investigate associations between children and youth with FASD and experiences of PV. Given that children with FASD have an increased likelihood of behavioral and socioemotional issues, as well as historical trauma, we hypothesized that children and youth with FASD symptoms (vs no FASD symptoms) will have a greater likelihood of PV. Method(s): The interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health Assessment was used to collect a sample of 18,701 treatment-seeking individuals from 4 to 18 years old (M = 12.33 years; SD = 3.53). Of 18,391 (98.29%) participants, 320 (1.71%) had a diagnosis of FASD. A multivariate ordinal logistic regression model examined the relationship between FASD diagnosis and PV (domestic violence; physical, sexual, emotional abuse; neglect) with sex and age as covariates. Statistical tests were 2-tailed, and significance levels were set at alpha =.05, corresponding to 95% CIs. Result(s): A greater portion of children with FASD had 3 or more trauma types compared to fewer than 3 trauma types. Children with FASD were more likely in odds to have 3 or more traumas (vs 2 or less), or 2 or more traumas (vs 1 or less; OR = 3.572; 95% CI, 2.917-4.373). Males were less likely to have more traumas compared to females (OR = 0.792; 95% CI, 0.749-0.838). For each additional year, the odds of having additional traumas (vs combined lower number of traumas) were greater (OR = 1.068; 95% CI, 1.059-1.076). Conclusion(s): To our knowledge, this is the first study examining associations between FASD and PV. Findings indicated that children with FASD were exposed to a greater number of multiple traumas compared to treatment-seeking children without FASD. While generalizability is limited to clinical samples, this study addresses an important gap in the literature. Further research on the relationship between FASD and PV should assist in developing trauma-informed clinical interventions. Clinical implications are discussed. ND, TRA, TREATCopyright © 2022

AM