Examining Adverse Childhood Experiences, Contextual Triggers, and Emotion Regulation among Kenyan Custodial Youth

Abstract

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have long been associated with the occurrence of aggression in young individuals. However, cumulative risk models have not adequately explained the complex mechanisms by which childhood trauma is linked to aggression, particularly in custodial contexts. This research focuses on how ACEs, contextual triggers (situational variables like interpersonal conflict and institutional stress), and emotion regulation are interrelated in male juveniles in custody at Kamiti Youth Correctional and Training Centre (YCTC) in Kenya. Findings reveal a high prevalence of multi domain ACEs (mean = 4.57), moderate to high aggression levels (mean total aggression = 89.09), but a weak and non-significant linear association between cumulative ACE scores and aggression (r = −0.174, p = 0.103). Emotion regulation results indicate that participants primarily relied on withdrawal (41.1 percent) and activity-based distraction (20 percent), while help seeking was limited (6.7 percent). Qualitative data also goes further to articulate the contextual factors that induce aggression including interpersonal contempt and delays in court, which are influenced by early bodily cues plus additional regulation strategies of withdrawal, sleep, and distraction used by youths. The study provides a theoretical synthesis of General Strain Theory, Attachment Theory, and Social Learning Theory to explain custodial aggression as an interaction between strain, regulation capacity, and learned behavioural responses. The findings highlight the importance of addressing situational and regulatory processes in addition to cumulative ACE exposure, and have practical significance for developing trauma informed interventions in low resource juvenile justice settings.