Development of Dual Systems Constructs During Childhood: Sexual Abuse Variety as a Predictor of Differential Development

The dual systems model has risen to prominence as a developmental framework because of its capacity for understanding adolescents' high propensity for risky behaviors during this period of the life-course. While development of impulse control and sensation-seeking mainly occurs during adolescence, childhood and exposures during childhood may lead to long-term impacts on development during this period of the life-course. Sexual abuse in childhood may be a particularly relevant predictor of differential development of these constructs. This study addressed these gaps in the literature by examining sexual abuse as a predictor of differential development of impulse control and sensation-seeking during childhood and early adolescence. The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development data were analyzed. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify developmental heterogeneity in impulse control and sensation-seeking. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine sexual abuse variety as a predictor of differential development. Results indicated that a four-group model of impulse control development (High Impulse Control, Moderate Impulse Control, Declining Impulsivity, High Impulsivity) and a three-group model of sensation-seeking development (High Sensation-Seeking, Moderate Sensation-Seeking, Low Sensation-Seeking) best fit the data. Greater sexual abuse variety predicted increased risk of assignment to the High Sensation-Seeking group, but did not predict impulse control development.