The Effects of Complex Trauma on Human Capital among Vulnerable Youth

This dissertation is comprised of two related studies with the first study laying the foundation for the second study. Study 1 assessed the validity and reliability of the Project Broadcast screening tool, which is intended to measure complex trauma, in a sample 13,714 who were assessed for maltreatment in North Carolina. Overall, findings supported the tool as a valid and reliable measure of complex trauma in the study sample. The underlying constructs of the tool showed that there was some divergence of trauma types between general trauma that was non-sexual versus sexual maltreatment and related symptoms and that symptoms were along the two constructs of externalizing and internalizing symptoms. Study 2 used the Project Broadcast tool in a structural equation model to measure the effects of complex trauma on human capital as well as the role played by out-of-home care in a sample of 3,796 school-aged children who were assessed for maltreatment. In general, latent constructs of trauma had indirect effects through trauma symptoms on human capital in the form of math scores. Trauma symptoms had direct effects on math scores, but not necessarily in the hypothesized direction.Doctor of Philosoph