The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Health in College Students

Abstract

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are linked to poor adult health (Felitti et al. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245–258, 1998; Brown et al. BMC Public Health, 10, 20, 2010). Research on ACEs exposure in college students is lacking. This study examined the impact of ACEs, health risk behaviors, and resiliency factors on objective and subjective measures of health in college students. ACEs and health risk behaviors emerged as significant predictors of health problems. However, when resiliency factors were accounted for, gender and life satisfaction were the only significant predictors of health problems. Likewise, ACEs score and health risk behaviors emerged as significant predictors of self-rated health. However, when resiliency factors were accounted for, gender, social support, and affect were the only significant predictors of self-rated health. Life satisfaction mediated the relationship between ACE score and health problems. Findings suggest that ACEs exposure has a lasting impact on health. The ability of resiliency factors to predict health has important implications for working with college students.