From Child Maltreatment to Violence Involvement: Life Course Pathways, Trajectories, and Patterns.

/ABSTRACT Significance. Childhood maltreatment is linked to lifelong negative consequences, including the perpetration of violence in later life, a phenomenon often referred to as the "cycle of violence." While the heterogeneity within this cycle is recognized, prospective longitudinal research examining the relationships between childhood maltreatment, adolescent weapon involvement, and both weapon- and non-weapon-related violence in adulthood remains limited. This proposal seeks to address this gap by analyzing an extended life span and incorporating factors that may be developmentally shaped by childhood maltreatment and intertwined with violence, such as neighborhood conditions, alcohol problems, and social isolation. Additionally, the study will account for individual differences, risk factors, and social determinants of health to provide a more comprehensive understanding of these dynamics. In doing so, it will enhance our understanding of the pathways, trajectories, and patterns of weapon-related and non-weapon-related violence from a life-course perspective. Research plan. The proposed research will leverage a unique 50-year longitudinal prospective cohort study to assess the long-term consequences of childhood maltreatment and examine adolescent weapon carrying, use, and threats (WCUT), as well as violent and criminal behavior in adulthood. The aims are: (1) to examine whether child maltreatment (ages 0–11) increases the risk of weapon involvement in adolescence (ages 12–17) and if this risk is independent of non-weapon-related violence; (2) to investigate the onset and temporal order in the relationship between child maltreatment (ages 0 to 11) and subsequent WCUT in adolescence (ages 12 to 17); (3) to assess the co-development of weapon and non-weapon violence trajectories in adulthood (ages 18–51), and how child maltreatment (ages 0–11), adolescent WCUT (ages 12– 17), and other social determinants predict these trajectories; and (4) the reciprocal associations among weapon and non-weapon violence, neighborhood conditions, alcohol problems, and social isolation over time (ages 29 to 59). Career development plan The goal of this K99/R00 award is supported by a career development plan designed to build upon and enhance the candidate’s skills to become an independently funded researcher and complete the proposed project. The plan includes training in the following areas: (1) subject-matter knowledge in violence prevention and injury science; (2) deepening expertise in causal inference and longitudinal data analysis; and (3) developing the skills necessary to transition to independent research. Environment and mentors: The research proposal and career development plan will be conducted at Columbia University, supported by an outstanding mentorship team with substantial expertise in all areas relevant to the project. Impact. This work fully aligns with the NICHD’s strategic plan by advancing the understanding of child development, early exposures, and transitions to adulthood through a life-course, interdisciplinary approach to inform future prevention and intervention strategies. Project Number: 1K99HD120616-01 | Fiscal Year: 2025 | NIH Institute/Center: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) | Principal Investigator: Diego Diaz-Faes | Institution: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES, NEW YORK, NY | Award Amount: $264,600 | Activity Code: K99 | Study Section: Special Emphasis Panel[ZRG1 SCIL-X (50)] View on NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/1K99HD12061601