Search Results (250)

Rates of alcohol use and exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are elevated among youth in the legal system (YILS) compared to their non-legally involved peers. Exposure to ACEs has been associated with later alcohol use and delinquency, and YILS often engage in delinquent behavior while under the influence of alcohol. The associations between ACEs, alcohol use, and delinquency among YILS are complex and multidirectional; research has yet to explore how these experiences and behaviors influence each other over time, or whether they differ based upon the reason for legal system involvement (status or delinquent petition). This study examined whether YILS’ ACEs were prospectively associated with self-reported delinquent behaviors, and whether self-reported recent alcohol use was an explanatory mechanism for this association. Multigroup mediation analyses were utilized to examine if these pathways differed based on youth’s court petition type. Results indicated that YILS report high rates of ACEs. Frequency of recent alcohol use mediated the associations between ACEs and subsequent delinquency for youth with a delinquent, but not status, petition. Concurrent assessment of trauma exposure and alcohol use when youth first enter the legal system is imperative to inform early intervention needs to reduce the likelihood of continued system involvement. Full article

Introduction: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) refer to traumatic events occurring before the age of 18 that can negatively impact physical and mental health, often disrupting development. Numerous studies have shown associations between ACEs and the onset or severity of psychotic disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of ACEs among patients with psychotic disorders and to examine an association between ACEs and the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of psychosis. Material and Methods: The study was conducted at the Center for Mental Health and the Psychiatric Clinic of the University Clinical Center Nis, from March to July 2025. The sample included adult patients of both sexes diagnosed with psychotic spectrum disorders based on ICD-10 criteria. The Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q), along with sociodemographic and clinical data from medical records, was used. Results: The sample included 60 patients, with a mean age of 36.7 years. The average ACE-Q score was 2.57 ± 1.98, with one-third of patients reporting high exposure (≥4 ACEs) to childhood adversity. Patients with high ACEs exposure (≥4 ACEs) differed significantly from those with low to moderate or no exposure (<4 ACEs) in terms of economic status, family history of psychiatric disorders, substance use, and treatment adherence. Conclusion: Despite the small sample size, our results point to a potential link between childhood adversity and certain sociodemographic and clinical characteristics in patients with psychotic disorders. Integrating systematic assessments of trauma history into routine clinical practice may support the development of more effective treatment strategies. Full article

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are negative but preventable experiences within family and social environments. Originally focused on abuse and household dysfunction, ACE indicators now include many social factors, such as social determinants of health and racism. Disabled Children and Youth (DCY) are particularly vulnerable to ACEs, whereby different body/mind characteristics and lived realities influence ACE exposures and their impacts differently. Racism is recognized as an ACE and as a risk factor that increases ACE exposures and worsens outcomes. Ableism, the negative judgments of body/mind differences, and disablism, the systemic discrimination based on such judgments, are often experienced by DCY with the same three linkages to ACEs as racism. The objective of this scoping review was to analyze how the ACE academic literature covers DCY and their experiences of ableism and disablism using keyword frequency and thematic analysis approaches. Only 35 sources (0.11%) analyzed DCY as survivors of ACEs. We found limited to no engagement with ableism, disablism, intersectionality, the Global South, family members and other DCY allies experiencing ACEs, and ACEs caused by the social environment, as well as few linkages to social and policy discourses that aim to make the social environment better. More theoretical and empirical work is needed. Full article

Background: Prenatal depression, affecting up to a quarter of all pregnancies in the United States, contributes to morbidity and mortality and is associated with increased risk of adverse birth and long-term mental health outcomes. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs, or experiences of abuse, neglect, or family dysfunction experienced prior to age 18) are a strong predictor of adult depression and adverse health outcomes. The present study investigated whether epigenetic modification in the form of DNA methylation (DNAm) of four stress-related, glucocorticoid pathway genes (CRH, CRHR1, FKBP5, NR3C1) mediates associations between ACEs and depressive symptoms among Black pregnant women. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, we examined the mediating role of DNAm on the relationship between depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)) and ACEs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 10-item questionnaire), in a subsample (n = 61) of Black pregnant women who were participants of the Biosocial Impacts of Black Births (BIBB) study. Results: A significant association was found between ACEs and depressive symptoms scores (TE α_X = 2.29 with p_TE = 6.60 × 10⁵). DNAm on five CpG sites within two genes significantly mediated the relationship between ACEs and depressive symptoms (cg03238273 on CRHR1, and cg08845721, cg16594263, cg19820298, and cg23430507 on NR3C1). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that DNAm partially mediated the association of ACEs and depressive symptoms during pregnancy among Black pregnant women. Understanding the molecular pathways underlying the mediating effect of ACEs on depressive symptoms among Black pregnant women can illuminate biological markers that help identify and treat pregnant women who are at an increased risk for depression following childhood trauma. Full article

This study uses the National Survey of Children’s Health to examine the nationwide prevalence and severity of US adolescent mental health issues in the 12–17 age group between the years 2022 and 2023 in relation to parental mental health and exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). We used the NSCH data collected for 12–17-year-old adolescents. Descriptive statistics were generated for the selected sample and binary logistics regressions were conducted to examine influential factors for the presence and severity of adolescent depression and anxiety for the selected year. Adolescents aged 12–17 who experienced neighborhood violence had higher odds of being diagnosed with anxiety (OR = 1.369, p = 0.009) and depression (OR = 1.508, p = 0.004). Those living with someone who was mentally ill, suicidal, or severely depressed showed increased odds of anxiety (OR = 1.642, p < 0.001) and depression (OR = 1.587, p < 0.001). Adolescents judged unfairly due to a health condition or disability had markedly higher odds of anxiety (OR = 3.056, p < 0.001) and depression (OR = 1.835, p < 0.001), including severe forms (severe anxiety OR = 2.569; severe depression OR = 2.238; both p < 0.001). Poorer parental emotional health was consistently associated with higher adolescent anxiety and depression, with “fair” parental emotional health showing the strongest association for depression (OR = 7.320, p < 0.001). These findings demonstrate the need for better tailored mental health efforts towards both adolescents and their caregivers highlighting the harm of long-term environmental and familial stressors, and the gaps in community approaches in this population. Full article

We examine access to U.S. welfare programs—Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—as primary prevention strategies against adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Using the University of Kentucky’s National Welfare Data and National Survey of Children’s Health (2016–2022), we estimate two-way fixed effects models linking state-level access rates to child-level ACE incidence. TANF access predicts reduced parental mental illness (fully adjusted β = −5.40, 95% CI: −8.80, −2.00), and parental incarceration in the model adjusted for state-level factors (β = −4.44, 95% CI: −8.84, −0.05), though the latter attenuates with child-level covariate adjustment. Unexpectedly, SNAP access correlates with slight increases in neighborhood violence exposure (fully adjusted β = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.39, 1.51) and parental substance use (crude β = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.93) in crude models. Robustness checks show greater TANF access is associated with fewer total ACEs (β = −0.27, 95% CI: −0.46, −0.07). Results suggest that welfare programs hinge on broader social contexts; TANF access appears protective, while SNAP findings diverge from prior research, likely reflecting measurement or contextual limitations that merit careful further investigation, rather than overinterpretations of program harm. Full article

Background: This cross-sectional observational study examined the relationship between caregivers’ adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), their perceived COVID-19-related burden, child psychopathology, and changes in family relationships during the pandemic. Methods: The final sample included 285 children (M = 10.19, SD = 3.36) from clinical settings and their caregivers. Caregivers reported their own ACEs and their children’s psychopathology. Perceived caregiver COVID-19 burden and changes in family relationships were also assessed. Correlational analyses, regressions, and mediation models were conducted to test direct and indirect associations. Results: Caregivers reported an average of 1.63 ACEs, with 18.4% reporting four or more. Children of caregivers who reported four or more ACEs exhibited significantly elevated psychopathology scores. However, caregiver ACEs did not directly predict the perceived COVID-19 burden. A mediation analysis revealed that child psychopathology mediated the association between caregiver ACEs and caregiver COVID-19 burden. Unexpectedly, higher caregiver ACEs were associated with less negative perceived changes in family relationships, particularly in 2023, indicating heterogeneous family adjustment trajectories. Conclusions: These findings highlight that child psychopathology is a key mechanism in the intergenerational transmission of caregiver burden linked to childhood adversity. They also suggest that support systems, resilience, or differing expectations among high-ACE caregivers may help buffer changes in family relationship. Early identification and trauma-informed, family-centered interventions beyond acute crisis are essential. However, limitations include the reliance on caregiver self-report and cross-sectional design. Further, longitudinal, multi-informant research is needed to clarify these dynamics and inform targeted support strategies. Full article

Children and youth with special healthcare needs (CYSHCN) face elevated risks of adverse childhood experiences while also having unique opportunities for positive childhood experiences (PCEs). Medical specialty camps can serve as protective environments promoting resilience and well-being in this population. We examined current literature to determine whether camp experiences align with the Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experience (HOPE) framework and function as PCEs for CYSHCN. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Google Scholar, and Elsevier databases using terms related to camps, positive childhood experiences, and childhood illness. Studies were systematically mapped onto the four HOPE framework categories and analyzed for qualities of effective PCE settings. Twenty-six studies demonstrated alignment between camp experiences and all four HOPE framework components: nurturing relationships, safe environments, social engagement opportunities, and social–emotional competency development. Four qualities of effective PCE settings emerged: being outdoors, engagement in meaningful activities, finding meaning in life, and experiencing “being away.” Research representing medical specialty camps demonstrates strong theoretical alignment with PCE frameworks, suggesting potential protective benefits against ACEs for CYSHCN. A conceptual model is proposed to guide future empirical research examining camps as facilitators of PCEs and their long-term health outcomes for this population. Full article

Background/Objectives: The opioid epidemic and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are two major concerns for child welfare systems. Little is known, however, regarding the mechanisms that perpetuate intergenerational cycles of ACEs and insecure/disorganized parent–young child attachment patterns in the context of parents’ opioid use. Methods: A high-risk sample of 101 parents (75 mothers and 26 fathers) who were opioid-involved, who had a child in the 0- to 5-year age range, and who were receiving medication-assisted treatment in the United States of America participated in this study. Parents were mostly White/Caucasian and single. Direct pathways between parents’ reported ACEs and their perceived parent–young child attachment patterns, as well as indirect pathways through substance use severity, depression, and trauma symptoms, were examined. Results: PROCESS analyses suggested that mothers’ ACEs significantly predicted their ratings of disorganized attachment patterns with their young children, with depression and trauma symptoms explaining greater variance than ACEs alone. The results indicated that fathers’ ACEs were not predictive of insecure/disorganized attachment patterns with their young children. Substance use severity was not predictive of parent–child attachment patterns for mothers or fathers. Conclusions: Generally, these findings highlighted different patterns among mothers and fathers’ ACEs, their ratings of parent–young child insecure/disorganized attachment, and their psychological sequelae. These findings further suggested the utility of trauma- and attachment-informed parenting interventions for high-risk mothers and fathers in breaking intergenerational cycles of risk. Full article

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are established predictors of long-term health risks. While pediatric practices increasingly screen for social drivers of health (SDOH) and other family psycho-social stressors, routine ACEs screening is not recommended due to lack of evidence for long-term benefit and concerns over stigmatization, re-traumatization, and non-standardized follow-up protocols. We piloted routine ACEs screening in Pediatric Primary Care practices that already routinely screen for SDOH, maternal depression and intimate partner violence (IPV). This retrospective chart review (2016–2020) explored the extent to which these family psycho-social screenings could serve as a relative proxy for ACEs identification. Among 1492 participants (738 children aged 0–5 and 690 caregivers mean age 30.3 ± 6.9), ACE and SDOH screening results were significantly associated (p < 0.002), particularly with housing insecurity (p < 0.014). However, 51.7% of individuals who reported a positive ACE screen were not flagged by the SDOH measure (false negatives), indicating relatively poor sensitivity. The negative predictive value for negative SDOH screens and negative ACEs was higher at 86%. These findings suggest that SDOH screening misses over half of true positives, and therefore reliance on SDOH screening alone may underestimate ACE exposure in pediatric primary care. Full article

Background/Objectives: The benefits of nature-based interventions to support well-being and mental health are increasingly well-documented in the literature; however, study of an occupational therapy gardening program for adolescents with exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is limited. Methods: This study evaluates the feasibility of a novel school gardening program for youth with a history of ACEs including the following: (1) recruitment; (2) data collection procedures and outcome measures; (3) acceptability and suitability of the intervention; and (4) evaluation of the response to a gardening intervention as measured by a visual analog scale of emotional state, a heartbeat counting task designed to capture changes in interoceptive awareness, and qualitative data from the teacher and researchers. This feasibility study was designed as an 8- to 10-week program (10 sessions minimum) to accommodate the school’s academic curriculum and support the participants’ academic progression. Three adolescents were recruited, ages 12–17, two of whom completed a shorter version of the program and one who dropped out. Results: Results indicated the gardening intervention recruitment and data collection procedures were feasible. Intervention was acceptable to participants. Outcome measures that produce both quantitative and qualitative changes are needed. Interoceptive measures show promise but require further refinement. Response to intervention seemed to be influenced by the participant’s psychosocial history but suggests possible changes in prosocial behavior. External factors such as absenteeism influenced aspects of participation, including frequency and duration of intervention. Conclusions: These findings suggest gardening interventions in occupational therapy are feasible and suitable for adolescents with a history of adversity. Potential exists for enhanced social connectedness, which supports mental health and well-being. Suggestions are offered for implementation and outcome measurements appropriate for this population. Full article

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are recognized risk factors for later substance use. Yet, data remain scarce—particularly regarding the differentiated effects of specific types of ACEs and their distinct associations with various psychoactive substances. The current study is one of the first in Lithuania to explore the associations between specific ACEs and psychoactive substance use in young adulthood (ages 18–29). This cross-sectional study included a total of 709 participants who completed an online survey. ACEs were measured using a combination of adapted ACEs items and the MACE questionnaire. Substance use was assessed using self-reported instruments: CUDIT-R (cannabis), AUDIT (alcohol), ASSIST (heavy psychoactive substances), and nicotine use. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was chosen to examine predictive relationships. Results revealed that experiences of sexual abuse and physical maltreatment in childhood predicted higher levels of alcohol use in young adulthood. Sexual abuse was positively associated with nicotine, cannabis, and heavy psychoactive substance use, while witnessing interpersonal violence was only associated with higher nicotine use. However, verbal abuse showed significant negative associations across several substance categories. No significant associations were found between family addiction history and substance use. The absence of an important relationship between family history of addiction and substance use indicates that genetic factors may be less decisive than environmental or psychosocial conditions. The main findings of this study are that ACEs are not qualitatively equivalent to one another, so it is worth examining them separately, rather than summing them. Furthermore, based on the negative associations with verbal abuse and the generally statistically negative associations, we can assume that ACEs may not be the most important factors increasing substance use. Further studies should look for other factors that influence substance use. Full article

Background/Objectives: This pilot study aimed to investigate the relationship between salivary neuropeptides levels, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and altruism in a sample of medical students. Additionally, the study examined potential sex differences in these relationships. Methods: Sixty medical students (36.6% men, 63.3% women) provided saliva samples to measure oxytocin, α-MSH, β-endorphin, neurotensin, and substance P using a custom 5-plex human peptide assay. Participants completed the ACE Survey and Compassionate Love Scale for Humanity (CLS-H) Altruism Survey. Descriptive statistics characterized demographics and survey data, with out-of-range values adjusted to the standard curve maximum. Data normality was assessed with the Jarque–Bera test; due to non-normality, values were log-transformed. Differences between male and female salivary, ACE score, and CLS-H altruism score were tested using t-tests and Mann–Whitney U-tests, while correlations were evaluated with Pearson and Spearman coefficients. Results: The five neuropeptides, while highly correlated with each other, did not exhibit significant relationships with altruism, as measured by the CLS-H Altruism Survey. Finally, female participants demonstrated greater altruistic tendencies compared with male participants with marginal significance. Conclusions: While there were no significant relationships between the fives neuropeptides, ACEs, or altruism; women demonstrated higher levels of altruism compared with men. The data reported in this pilot study did not strongly support the conclusion that neuropeptides influence social behavior and trauma response. Furthermore, future studies with larger, more diverse samples and multiple time point measurements of neuropeptides could be beneficial to better understand the relationships between neuropeptides and any potential implications for mental health interventions. Full article

Parental adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to negative outcomes in children, including emotional and behavioral problems, developmental delays, and higher risk for psychopathology. Most research focuses on school-aged children or community samples, with few studies examining preschool-aged children in child psychiatric care. Understanding parental ACEs in this population is crucial, as early childhood is a sensitive developmental period, and intergenerational effects may be particularly pronounced in children already presenting with psychiatric symptoms. Background/Objectives: The goal of this study was to analyze how parents of patients in an early childhood (0–5.9 yrs) mental health outpatient clinic differ from the general population in terms of the frequency of ACEs. In addition, we investigated the connection between mental health disorders in young children and the specific ACE scores of their parents. Methods: A total of 116 caregivers (34.45 years (SD = 5.28)) and their children (71.6% boys, 28.4% girls) at an average age of 3.99 years (SD = 1.35, range = 0.31–5.95) were included in the analysis. The legal guardians completed the 10-item ACE questionnaire. The young children were diagnosed as part of outpatient treatment using the DC:0–5 classification system. We analyzed the ACE scores and diagnoses descriptively and in comparison to a community sample. Results: An average value of 2.38 parental ACEs was reported by our sample, and 68.1% (n = 79) reported at least one ACE. The high-risk group with four or more ACEs comprised 30.2% (n = 35). The most common diagnosis in young children was the Disorder of Dysregulated Anger and Aggression of Early Childhood, followed by global developmental delay. Adjustment disorder was third in terms of frequency. Among the examined child psychiatric diagnoses, adjustment disorder showed a significant correlation with parents being affected by the ACE category of neglect (OR = 2.54; 95% CI: 1.012–6.369; p = 0.047). Conclusions: Parents who presented their children at an early childhood mental health outpatient clinic reported significantly more ACEs as compared to representative data on ACEs in adulthood. These results highlight the need for further studies with larger samples to enable a more in-depth analysis of the general intergenerational transmission processes and the differential transmission of specific ACEs to specific diagnoses in preschool-aged children. Full article

Background: Adolescence is a critical period of rapid physical and psychological change, yet it is also when many health and well-being problems first emerge, often setting limits on lifelong opportunities and achievements as youth transition into adulthood. The ground-breaking adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) study has significantly shaped the development of programs and policies aimed at fostering adolescent health. Nonetheless, there has been limited exploration into the heterogeneity among individuals experiencing a high number of ACEs, such as four or more. This study employs Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) to examine the diverse outcome profiles of adolescents who have been exposed to a substantial number of ACEs. Method: The data were from participants who experienced at least four ACEs by age 9 in the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 1427; 54% male; 59% Black; 15.3% Hispanic; 2.4% other). We applied LPA using the manual three-step method within Mplus 8 to establish profiles based on six developmental indicators at age 15. These indicators included optimism, perseverance, academic performance, internalizing and externalizing behavioral competence, and social skills. The full information maximum likelihood method was used to handle missing data. Results: The study identified three distinct profile groups according to model fit indices and interpretability: Multidimensional Competence Group (61.0%), Low Personality and Social Competence Group (23.8%), and Low Behavioral Competence Group (15.2%). Racial and ethnic backgrounds were significant predictors of membership in these different profile groups. Conclusions: In a research landscape often focused on the cumulative harm of ACEs, our study underscores the heterogeneity of trauma profiles among adolescents with substantial ACE exposure. Given that adolescence is a critical stage when health and well-being challenges emerge, tailored early interventions are important to supporting a successful transition into adulthood. We advocate for the importance of comprehensive screening for social-cognitive and behavioral health difficulties in trauma-affected youth, enabling practitioners to implement timely prevention strategies and tailored interventions that foster resilience and long-term well-being. Full article