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Abstract
Child maltreatment, trauma symptoms, and alpha electroencephalography (EEG) asymmetry
have been linked to problem behaviors and alcohol use disorders. The goal of this
pilot study was to clarify the role of alpha EEG asymmetry in the relation of maltreatment
and problem behaviors. It was hypothesized that adolescents with more maltreatment,
trauma symptoms, and right alpha EEG asymmetry would have more problem behaviors and
alcohol use. It was also hypothesized that alpha EEG asymmetry would moderate the
association between maltreatment/trauma symptoms and problem behaviors. Participants
were 52 adolescents aged 12–14 years. Resting-state alpha EEG asymmetry was measured
in this home-based study as a potential moderator in the association of child maltreatment
and trauma symptoms to problem behaviors including alcohol use. Child maltreatment
reports and trauma symptoms were significantly associated with problem behaviors (
β = .259, p = .037 and β = .594, p < .001, respectively). Trauma symptoms were
associated with alcohol-use ( Incidence Rate Ratio = 1.048, p = .032). Right alpha
EEG EEG asymmetry moderated the positive association of trauma symptoms and problem
behaviors ( β = - .383, p = .024). However, this was not the case for left alpha
EEG asymmetry. Neural correlates associated with individuals’ affective-behavioral
profiles may play a role in the susceptibility for problem behaviors among adolescents
exposed to higher levels of childhood trauma. This could be useful in developing targeted
assessments and interventions to prevent or treat these problems in adolescents.