Reward Processing Modulates the Association Between Trauma Exposure and Externalizing Psychopathology

Abstract

Childhood adversity is common and strongly associated with risk for psychopathology. Identifying factors that buffer children from experiencing psychopathology following adversity is critical for developing more effective intervention approaches. In the present study, we examined several behavioral metrics of reward processing reflecting global approach motivation for reward and the degree to which reward responses scaled with reward value (i.e., behavioral sensitivity to reward value) as potential moderators of the association of multiple dimensions of adversity—including trauma, caregiver neglect, and food insecurity—with depression and externalizing psychopathology in a sample of youths ages 8 to 16 ( n = 132). Trauma exposure and externalizing problems were positively associated at low and moderate levels of reward reactivity, but this association became nonsignificant at high levels of reward reactivity. Our findings extend prior work by demonstrating that high behavioral sensitivity to reward value may buffer against externalizing problems following exposure to trauma.

Impact of Early Life Stress on Reward Circuit Function and Regulation

“…Behaviorally, children and adolescents exposed to ELS show challenges in aspects of reward processing and decision-making. There are multiple reports of lower reward responsivity and approach motivation in youth exposed to physical abuse ( 41 , 42 ), social neglect ( 43 , 44 ), and other adverse childhood experiences ( 42 , 45 – 47 ). In such work, participants often need to make speeded responses to a target to receive rewards or positive feedback.…”

Adaptive Behavior in Slovak Children with Intellectual Disability in Institutional Care

“…Maltreatment can impact children’s coping skills, attachment, social functioning, and psychopathology. The quality of socialization is closely connected with challenging behavior and mental health problems [ 38 , 39 , 58 , 59 ]. Intellectual disabilities are a significant predictor of mental health problems in children in institutional care [ 11 , 42 ].…”

“…Deprivation is associated with lower cognitive abilities, especially verbal aspects [ 29 , 36 , 37 ], and poor social skills. Mediating, also moderating function between adversity and social problems is a disruption of reward processing [ 38 , 39 ].…”

Children’s value-based decision making

“…However, this literature remains inconclusive. Some evidence suggests that stress exposure and predictability in childhood are linked to the development of reward and threat learning processes 7 , 9 , 20 – 22 , 40 . Other reports indicate limited support for any association 7 , 23 , 24 .…”