Adolescent Development in Context: Longitudinal Temporal Dynamics Between Childhood Maltreatment, Uncertainty Stress, and Exploratory Behavior

ABSTRACT Exploratory behavior, accompanied by positive risks and uncertainty, has been proven essential in sculpting individuals’ autonomous decision‐making during adolescence owing to its significant adaptive potential. Although prior research has suggested that assessing the degree of uncertainty and engaging in this adaptive behavior may be influenced by early adversity, further investigation is needed into the longitudinal temporal dynamics between childhood maltreatment and exploratory behavior, as well as the mechanisms underlying this association. Given that uncertainty stress refers to the subjective experience of stress elicited by uncertainty, it remains unclear whether uncertainty stress mediates the longitudinal temporal dynamics between childhood maltreatment and exploratory behavior. To address the aforementioned gaps, the present study was performed using a sample of 789 adolescents ( M age = 15.85, SD age = 0.84, 44.36% male) across three waves spanning one year. Our random‐intercept cross‐lagged model revealed that age negatively predicted exploratory behavior at the between‐person level. At the within‐person level, a notable positive dynamic bidirectional association transpired between childhood maltreatment and uncertainty stress within a short‐term span. Conversely, over an extended time frame, we found the positive predictive influence of fluctuations of uncertainty stress on those of childhood maltreatment. Additionally, uncertainty stress positively mediated the within‐person association between childhood maltreatment and exploratory behavior, as well as the cascading effects of childhood maltreatment and uncertainty stress on exploratory behavior. These findings would provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying adaptive behavior in adolescents with adverse childhood experiences and inform targeted interventions to alleviate their long‐term effects. Summary At the within‐person level, a notable positive dynamic bidirectional association transpired between childhood maltreatment and uncertainty stress within a short‐term span. Over an extended time frame, we found the positive predictive influence of fluctuations of uncertainty stress on those of childhood maltreatment. Uncertainty stress positively mediated the within‐person association between childhood maltreatment and exploratory behavior. Findings also revealed the cascading effects of childhood maltreatment and uncertainty stress on exploratory behavior.