Levels Of Adverse Childhood Experiences Research Articles

Mothers' Adverse Childhood Experiences Moderate the Association between Maternal Anger and Children's Externalizing Symptoms.

This study examined the association between maternal anger, children's externalizing symptoms, and the moderating impact of maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV). The primary objective was to investigate whether maternal ACEs alter the link between maternal anger and children's externalizing symptoms, guided by theoretical frameworks such as the stress sensitization and stress steeling models. A sample of 159 Portuguese mothers exposed to IPV participated in the study, completing a protocol of self-report measures. Measured variables included maternal anger, ACEs, children's externalizing symptoms, and IPV. Results indicate a significant moderation effect of ACEs on the association between maternal anger and externalizing symptoms at low levels of ACEs. Conversely, at moderate and high ACEs levels, no statistically significant association exists between maternal anger and children's externalizing symptoms. Clinical implications emphasize the importance of tailored parenting interventions to prevent externalizing symptoms in children, integrating diverse emotion regulation strategies while considering the impact of maternal ACEs.

Adverse childhood experiences and psychological maladjustment in adolescence: The protective role of epistemic trust, mentalized affectivity, and reflective functioning.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are psychosocial factors acknowledged as significant contributors to health consequences later in adolescence, including psychological maladjustment. The research suggests that, at a transdiagnostic and transtheoretical level, working on restoring epistemic trust (ET), mentalized affectivity (MA), and reflective functioning (RF) in adolescents with ACEs assumes a central role in the therapeutic process. However, there are still few studies that attempted to investigate the specific role of these sociocognitive factors in the detrimental positive association between levels of experienced ACEs during childhood and psychological maladjustment in nonclinical adolescents. A community sample of 306 Italian cisgender adolescents (61.4% assigned females at birth; age range 13-19 years old; Mage = 16.1, SD = 1.64) self-reported ACEs (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form), psychological maladjustment (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), ET (Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity Questionnaire), MA (Brief-Mentalized Affectivity Scale for Adolescence), and RF (Reflective Functioning Questionnaire). A multiple mediation regression analysis has been performed to explore the association between ACEs and psychological maladjustment through the interaction with socio-cognitive factors. ACEs are positive predictors of psychological maladjustment later in adolescence. Regardless of gender differences, epistemic mistrust and credulity, processing and expressing emotions, and uncertainty about mental states mediated this association, while epistemic trust, identifying emotions, and certainty about mental states did not configure as significant mediators. Findings suggest that ET disruptions and deficits in RF are risk factors, while MA is a protective factor within the link between ACEs and psychological maladjustment in adolescence. These links help to specify the role of sociocognitive factors in the development of mental problems in adolescents who have been exposed to adverse experiences in childhood.

The Impact of Childhood Experiences on the Incidence of Schizophrenia

The impact of childhood experiences on the development of schizophrenia has received considerable attention in recent studies. This study aimed to explore the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the incidence of schizophrenia. A mixed methods approach was employed, analyzing data from longitudinal studies, clinical assessments, and patient interviews to investigate this relationship. The findings indicate that individuals who experienced high levels of ACEs are at significantly higher risk of developing schizophrenia compared to those with fewer or no ACEs. These results highlight the importance of early intervention and prevention strategies to mitigate the negative impact of childhood adversity on long-term mental health. This research underscores the need for comprehensive strategies that address the root causes of ACEs and provide support for at-risk populations, ultimately aiming to reduce the incidence of schizophrenia linked to childhood adversity.

Patterns of adverse childhood experiences and associations with lower mental well-being among university students

BackgroundUniversity students report high levels of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which can lead to severe mental health problems. Understanding how ACEs impact well-being in this population is essential, yet research to date is limited. ObjectiveTo explore ACE patterns and their association with lower well-being in university students. Participants and setting1023 Spanish students (71.6 % female) aged between 18 and 64 years old (M = 20.10, SD = 3.93) completed a self-report questionnaire. MethodsThis study used a cross-sectional design. The ACE International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) and the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale were used to assess, respectively, childhood adversities and mental well-being. Latent Class Analysis and regression modeling were conducted to analyze the link between ACEs and lower mental well-being, considering the covariates of age, country of origin, sexual orientation, and mental illness. ResultsFour ACE classes were identified: Low ACEs (49.5 %), Dysfunctional Household (12.3 %), Household and Peer Abuse (31.0 %), and High ACEs (7.2 %). The regression analysis (F(3, 1007) = 19.2, p < .001, R2adj = 0.054) successfully predicted well-being scores based on ACE classes. When compared with the Low ACE class, all other classes exhibited lower levels of well-being. Age, sexual orientation, and mental illness were also related to lower well-being, with mental illness having the strongest negative effect (β = −0.635, t(1015) = −6.49, p < .001). ConclusionsThese findings underscore the relationship between childhood adversity and mental health, offering insights for future prevention efforts and enriching our understanding of ACEs and their impact on well-being.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Illegal Drug Use Among College Students: Findings from a French Sample.

While studies have demonstrated the negative impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on lifelong health, less is known about the relationship between ACEs and illegal drug use. Thus, the objective of the study was to examine the relationship between ACEs and illegal drug use among college students. French college students between 18 and 30 years enrolled in a university cohort study were eligible for inclusion. Multivariate logistic regression models were conducted for each drug. Among the sample (n = 1,157), 30.6% had no ACE exposure, 29.6%, 19.2%, and 20.7% had 1, 2 and ≥ 3 ACEs, respectively. Students with ACEs had a higher likelihood of using illegal drugs (p = 0.0067). After controlling for potential confounders, having ≥ 3 ACEs increased the risk of lifetime use of multiple drugs (aOR:10.9; 95% CI: 4.6-26.0), stimulants (aOR: 3.6; 95% CI:1.7-7.7), hallucinogens (aOR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1-3.5), cannabis (aOR: 4.7; 95% CI: 2.7-8.0), and risky illegal drugs (e.g., higher lifetime frequency drug use) (aOR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.5-5.8). Estimates for illegal drug use were highest with parental substance use (aOR: 2.6; 95% CI; 1.5-4.4), sexual abuse (aOR: 2.3; 95% CI; 1.4-3.8), and divorce (aOR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3-2.7). ACEs increase the risk for lifetime illegal drug use and risky drug use in a dose-respondent fashion. These findings suggest that university students with higher levels of ACEs may benefit from additional support and services from clinical practitioners and university administrators.

War and women: An analysis of Ukrainian refugee women staying in the Czech Republic.

In addition to the loss of life, Russian aggression against Ukraine, which began in February 2022, also brings interpersonal losses resulting from the need to emigrate. Parallel to the fighting men, women bear most of the burden of caring for the family. Using in-depth interviews supplemented by questions about adverse childhood experiences and administration of The Centrality of Events Scale and the PTSD Checklist - PCL-5 with 43 Ukrainian women (18-60years old), we analyzed adaptation to the situation of emigration and the association of their war and earlier experiences with the level of traumatization. Women were interviewed shortly after emigration to the Czech Republic (3-42week afterward). High levels of adverse childhood experiences and post-traumatic stress symptoms were found. The war was perceived as a currently negative central event associated with traumatic stress symptoms, and 79% of the sample expressed the opinion that the war had changed them. The results of this study suggest an intertwining of previous life experiences with the current need and ability to adapt.

Variety ACEs and risk of developing anxiety, depression, or anxiety-depression co-morbidity: the 2006-2022 UK Biobank data.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and anxiety-depression co-morbidity are attracting widespread attention. Previous studies have shown the relationship between individual psychiatric disorders and ACEs. This study will analyze the correlation between anxiety-depression co-morbidity and different levels of ACEs. Seven categories of ACE and four classifications of psychiatric disorders were defined in a sample of 126,064 participants identified by the UK Biobank from 2006-2022, and correlations were investigated using logistic regression models. Then, to explore nonlinear relationships, restricted spline models were developed to examine differences in sex and age across cohorts (n = 126,064 for the full cohort and n = 121,934 for the European cohort). Finally, the impact of the category of ACEs on psychiatric disorders was examined. After controlling for confounders, ACEs scores showed dose-dependent relationships with depression, anxiety, anxiety-depression co-morbidity, and at least one (any of the first three outcomes) in all models. ACEs with different scores were significantly positively correlated with the four psychiatric disorders classifications, with the highest odds of anxiety-depression co-morbidity (odds ratio [OR] = 4.87, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 4.37 ~ 5.43), p = 6.08 × 10-178. In the restricted cubic spline models, the risk was relatively flat for females at ACEs = 0-1 and males at ACEs = 0-2/3 (except in males, where ACEs were associated with a lower risk of anxiety, all other psychiatric disorders had an increased risk of morbidity after risk smoothing). In addition, the risk of having anxiety, depression, anxiety-depression co-morbidity, and at least one of these disorders varies with each category of ACEs. The prevalence of anxiety-depression comorbidity was highest across ACE scores after controlling for confounding factors and had a significant effect on each category of ACEs.

Differences in resilience profiles between military veterans and the general population: An exploratory latent profile analysis using the HUNT-4 survey.

Using latent profile analyses, the current work investigated levels of adverse childhood experiences, symptoms of anxiety and depression and 3 dimensions of relational promotive factors) to identify resilience profiles in a large general population sample (N=161,622, mean age=53.02; SD=17.80; 56.1% females). We then used the same method to identify the resilience profiles of military veterans (N=386, mean age=43.47; SD=10.08; 9.8% females), all of whom had served in Afghanistan. A four-profile-solution was the best fitting for the general population (High resilient 30%, Moderate resilient 13%, Low resilient 53%, Work/social-based resilience 4%), while a three-profile-solution had the best fit in the veteran cohort (Family-based resilience 28%, Work/social-based resilience 62%, Hardy loners 10%). To ground the identified profiles in occupational function, we also checked how they predicted reports of sleep difficulties, job demand and job control. Despite both samples inhabiting a geographic region known for high socioeconomic similarity among residents, we found marked differences in profile-solutions between the military veterans and the general population. Our findings suggests that resilience profiles are highly influenced by cohort characteristics and the specific resources needed to manage a given stressor load. Accordingly, the generalisability of specific protective factors may be low across distinct cohorts, and reliable findings need to be obtained in specific populations as defined by stressor context, sample characteristics, and relevant outcomes.

15 The Role of Race and Adverse Childhood Experiences on Predicting Cognitive Ability on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

Objective:Awareness of risk factors associated with any form of impairment is critical for formulating optimal prevention and treatment planning. Millions worldwide suffer from some form of cognitive impairment, with the highest rates amongst Black and Hispanic populations. The latter have also been found to achieve lower scores on standardized neurocognitive testing than other racial/ethnic groups. Understanding the socio-demographic risk factors that lead to this discrepancy in neurocognitive functioning across racial groups is crucial. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), are one aspect of social determinants of health. ACES have been linked to a greater risk of future memory impairment, such as dementia. Moreover, higher instances of ACEs have been found amongst racial minorities. Considering the current literature, the purpose of this exploratory research is to better understand how social determinants, more specifically, ACEs, may play a role in the development of cognitive impairment.Participants and Methods:This cross-sectional study included data from an urban, public Midwestern academic medical center. There was a total of 64 adult clinical patients that were referred for a neuropsychological evaluation. All patients were administered a standardized neurocognitive battery that included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) as well as a 10-item ACE questionnaire, which measures levels of adverse childhood experiences. The sample was 73% Black and 27% White. The average age was 66 (SD=8.6) and average education was 12.6 years (SD=3.4). A two-way ANOVA was conducted to evaluate the interaction of racial identity (White; Black) and ACE score on MoCA total score. An ACE score &gt;4 was categorized as “high”; ACE &lt;4 was categorized as “low.”Results:There was not a significant interaction of race and ACE group on MoCA score (p=.929) nor a significant main effect of ACE score (p=.541). Interestingly, there was a significant main effect of Race on MoCA (p=.029). White patients had an average MoCA score of 21.82 (sd=4.77). Black patients had an average MoCA score of 17.54 (sd=5.91).Conclusions:Overall, Black patients demonstrated statistically lower scores on the MoCA than White patients. There was no significant difference on MoCA score between races when also accounting for ACE scores. Given this study’s findings, one’s level of adverse childhood experiences does not appear to impact one’s cognitive ability later in life. There is a significant difference in cognitive ability between races, specifically Black and White people, which suggests there may be social determinants other than childhood experiences to be explored that influence cognitive impairment.

12 The Effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form Symptom Reporting Among Adult Neuropsychological Referrals

Objective:Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is a broad construct that refers to negative events one may experience during childhood, including, but not limited to, childhood maltreatment, household dysfunction, and trauma. ACEs have consistently shown to be associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes. Although researchers have investigated the effects of trauma and abuse on personality measures, few studies have examined differences between those with high ACEs, low ACEs, and no ACEs on measures of personality in the context of neuropsychological evaluations.Participants and Methods:The current study included 128 consecutive adult patients referred for outpatient neuropsychological evaluation of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The sample was 39.8% non-Hispanic White, 21.9% non-Hispanic Black, 16.4% Hispanic, 10.9% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 10.9% other race/ethnicity, with a mean age of 27.9 years (SD=6.3) and mean education of 16.1 years (SD=2.2). Multivariate analyses of variance were performed to evaluate differences on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) between individuals who experienced high levels of ACEs (&gt;4/10 on the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire), low levels of ACEs (1-3/10), and no ACEs (0/10).Results:When analyzing Higher-Order (H-O) scales, there was a significant group difference in mean elevation on the Behavioral/Externalizing Dysfunction (BXD) scale, F(2,113)=3.124, p &lt; .05, such that individuals in the high ACEs group evidenced higher scores than those in the low ACEs group (p &lt; .05). Additionally, there were significant differences on several Restructured Clinical (RC) scales. Specifically, there were group differences on the Low Positive Emotions (RC2) scale, F(2,113)=3.427, p &lt; .05, such that those in the low ACEs group evidenced higher scores than those in the no ACEs group (p &lt; .05). The Antisocial Behavior (RC4) scale also had significant differences, F(2,113)=13.703, p &lt; .001, such that those in the high ACEs group had higher scores than those in the low and no ACEs groups (p &lt; .001). Finally, the Ideas of Persecution (RC6) scale yielded significant group differences, F(2,113)=4.793, p &lt; .05, such that those in the high ACEs group evidenced higher scores than those in the low and no ACEs groups (p &lt; .05).Conclusions:In sum, this study demonstrated that ACEs, particularly high levels of ACEs, are related to higher difficulties with problems with under-controlled and rule-breaking behaviors, low positive emotional responses, and beliefs that others pose a threat. As such, assessment of ACEs may serve an important role in characterizing patients’ psychological status as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation.

Adverse childhood experiences: a meta-analysis of prevalence and moderators among half a million adults in 206 studies.

Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including maltreatment and family dysfunction, is a major contributor to the global burden of diseaseand disability. With a large body of international literature on ACEs having emerged over the past 25 years, it is timely to now synthetize the availableevidence to estimate the global prevalence of ACEs and, through a series of moderator analyses, determine which populations are at higher risk. We searched studies published between January 1, 1998 and August 5, 2021 in Medline, PsycINFO and Embase. Study inclusion criteria were using the 8- or 10-item ACE Questionnaire (±2 items), reporting the prevalence of ACEs in population samples of adults, and being published in English. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022348429). In total, 206 studies (208 sample estimates) from 22 countries, with 546,458 adult participants, were included. The pooled prevalence of the five levels of ACEs was: 39.9% (95% CI: 29.8-49.2) for no ACE; 22.4% (95% CI: 14.1-30.6) for one ACE; 13.0% (95% CI: 6.5-19.8) for two ACEs; 8.7% (95% CI: 3.4-14.5) for three ACEs, and 16.1% (95% CI: 8.9-23.5) for four or more ACEs. In subsequent moderation analyses, there was strong evidence that the prevalence of 4+ ACEs was higher in populations with a history of a mental health condition (47.5%; 95% CI: 34.4-60.7) and with substance abuse or addiction (55.2%; 95% CI: 45.5-64.8), as well as in individuals from low-income households (40.5%; 95% CI: 32.9-48.4) and unhoused individuals (59.7%; 95% CI: 56.8-62.4). There was also good evidence that the prevalence of 4+ ACEs was larger in minoritized racial/ethnic groups, particularly when comparing study estimates in populations identifying as Indigenous/Native American (40.8%; 95% CI: 23.1-59.8) to those identifying as White (12.1%; 95% CI: 10.2-14.2) and Asian (5.6%; 95% CI: 2.4-10.2). Thus, ACEs are common in the general population, but there are disparities in their prevalence. They are among the principal antecedent threats to individual well-being and, as such, constitute a pressing socialissue globally. Both prevention strategies and downstream interventions are needed to reduce the prevalence and mitigate the severity of the effects of ACEs and thereby reduce their deleterious health consequences on future generations.

Positive Early Childhood Experiences and School Readiness among US Preschoolers

To characterize the relationship between positive early childhood experiences (PECEs) and school readiness, and assess whether the PECEs-school readiness relationship was robust to and/or differed across levels of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). We analyzed national data on children ages 3-5 from 2016 to 2020 (n=26 871) to examine associations between key PECE domains (nurturing relationships, home learning opportunities, safe and stable environments, and family routines) with being on track for school readiness, defined using a pilot, multidimensional measure called "healthy and ready to learn". Weighted univariate, bivariate, and multivariable analyses were conducted to generate nationally representative estimates. Multivariable models adjusted for sociodemographic factors and were assessed both with and without cumulative ACE exposure. Two-fifths of children were healthy and ready to learn. Exposure to PECEs was associated with higher school readiness, irrespective of relative ACE exposure. Compared with those with low PECEs, children with moderate (aOR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.86-2.58) and high (aOR, 4.37; 95% CI, 3.58-5.34) PECEs had greater odds for being healthy and ready to learn, net of both sociodemographic factors and ACE exposure. Significant associations were robust across demographic groups (eg, race and ethnicity), ACE levels, and ACE types (eg, parental incarceration). Increasing PECEs correspond with greater likelihood of possessing capacities key for school functioning, even amidst ACEs. In concert with efforts to ameliorate early life trauma, caregivers, health care providers, educators, and systems can consider boosting PECEs to foster healthy development in childhood and beyond.

Adverse childhood experiences, unhealthy lifestyle, and nonsuicidal self-injury: findings from six universities in Shaanxi province, China.

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a serious public health problem. The role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and lifestyle on the risk for NSSI is still underexplored, especially among college students. We aimed to investigate the association of ACEs with the risk of NSSI, and effect modifications by lifestyle among college students. A total of 18,723 college students from six universities were recruited through a multistage, random cluster sampling method in Shaanxi province, China. The Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire was used to assess ACEs for each participant, and the Chinese version of the Ottawa Self-injury Inventory was used to assess the presence or absence of NSSI behaviors. Information about lifestyle was collected by a self-designed questionnaire. The associations of NSSI with ACEs and lifestyle were analyzed using logistic regression models. Furthermore, we constructed a combination score of multiple lifestyles and evaluated whether lifestyle modified the effect of ACEs on the risk of NSSI. The prevalence of NSSI for the past 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months was 3.8, 5.3, and 6.5%, respectively. 82.6% of participants have reported experiencing at least one type of ACEs, and participants with higher levels of ACEs (≥4) were more likely to have higher odds of developing NSSI during the past 1 month (OR, 4.10; 95%CI, 3.38-4.97), 6 months (OR, 4.76; 95%CI, 4.03-5.62), and 12 months (OR, 5.62; 95%CI, 4.83-6.55), as compared with participants with low levels of ACEs (0-1). There were additive interactions between ACEs and lifestyle. Compared with participants with low levels of ACEs and healthy lifestyle, participants with high levels of ACEs and unhealthy lifestyle had the highest odds of NSSI during the past 1 month (OR, 5.56; 95%CI, 3.80-8.31), 6 months (OR, 6.62; 95%CI, 4.73-9.42), and 12 months (OR, 7.62; 95%CI, 5.59-10.52). These results suggest that ACEs play an important role in the occurrence of NSSI among college students, especially in those with unhealthy lifestyle. Our findings may help develop targeted intervention strategies for the prevention of NSSI.

Relationship between child-to-parent violence and cumulative childhood adversity: the mediating role of parental attachment, resilience, and emotional intelligence.

Recent research on aggressor profiles in child-to-parent violence (CPV) seems to provide promising results. However, this phenomenon has been poorly addressed in the adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) framework. This study aimed to explore the frequency of different types of ACEs and cumulative ACEs in adolescents who exert CPV, to analyze the differences between aggressors with different levels of cumulative ACEs in parental attachment, resilience, and emotional intelligence, and to evaluate the associations between these variables, as well as a possible mediational model. A total of 3,142 Spanish adolescents (50.7% girls) aged between 12 and 18 years from educational centers participated. Adolescents who exerted CPV presented higher rates of ACEs both independently and cumulatively than those without CPV. Aggressors with cumulative ACEs (88%) in general presented more insecure parental attachment, lower resilience, and lower emotional intelligence than those without cumulative ACEs, and, in turn, aggressors with high levels of cumulative ACEs than those with low levels of cumulative ACEs. Significant associations were identified between CPV, ACEs, insecure parental attachment, resilience, and emotional intelligence. The mediation model suggested that ACEs are related to CPV through preoccupied and traumatized parental attachment and also through low levels of emotional intelligence. The findings provide a better understanding of CPV from the perspective of ACEs, especially of those cases that involve an accumulation of adverse experiences during childhood, and suggest greater professional attention to these cases with the design of specialized CPV intervention programs.

Intergenerational associations of adverse and positive maternal childhood experiences with young children’s psychosocial well-being

ABSTRACT Background: Maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are believed to have negative consequences on offspring health. However, positive childhood experiences (PCEs) may be concurrent with ACEs, and little is known about how ACEs and PCEs transmit intergenerationally in the context of each other. Objective: To explore the independent effect of maternal ACEs and PCEs on offspring psychosocial well-being and how ACEs and PCEs are intergenerationally transmitted in their context. Method: Data were 2587 mother–child dyads in Anhui provinces of China. Mothers retrospectively reported their ACEs and PCEs, as well as provided demographic characteristics and their children’s psychosocial well-being. Logistic regression models were performed to explore the associations of maternal ACEs and PCEs with offspring psychosocial well-being. Results: Separate unadjusted logistic regression models showed that children with mothers reported high ACEs scores were more likely to have psychosocial challenges (total difficulties and prosocial problems), while children whose mothers reported high PCEs scores were less likely to have psychosocial challenges. When we added maternal ACEs and PCEs to a same model, we found that PCEs slightly neutralised the negative effects of ACEs on offspring’s total difficulties and prosocial problems. When stratified by sample, mothers with high PCE scores and higher maternal ACEs were related with a higher risk of offspring total difficulties; mothers with low levels of ACEs and high PCEs tend to report a lower risk of offspring total difficulties. Conclusions: Results suggest that PCEs are positively and intergenerationally transmitted. Results suggest that PCEs are positively and intergenerationally transmitted. More programme should be provided to increase maternal PCEs. When preventing the intergenerational transmission of ACEs, specific interventions should be provided to mothers with different levels of PCEs.

Your smile won’t affect me: Association between childhood maternal antipathy and adult neural reward function in a transdiagnostic sample

Aberrant activation in the ventral striatum (VS) during reward anticipation may be a key mechanism linking adverse childhood experiences (ACE) to transdiagnostic psychopathology. This study aimed to elucidate whether retrospectively reported ACE, specifically maternal antipathy, relate to monetary and social reward anticipation in a transdiagnostic adult sample. A cross-sectional neuroimaging study was conducted in 118 participants with varying levels of ACE, including 25 participants with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 32 with major depressive disorder (MDD), 29 with somatic symptom disorder (SSD), and 32 healthy volunteers (HVs). Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging during a monetary and social incentive delay task, and completed a self-report measure of ACE, including maternal antipathy. Neural correlates of monetary and social reward anticipation and their association with ACE, particularly maternal antipathy, were analyzed. Participants showed elevated activation in brain regions underlying reward processing, including the VS, only while anticipating social, but not monetary rewards. Participants reporting higher levels of maternal antipathy exhibited reduced activation in the brain reward network, including the VS, only during social, but not monetary reward anticipation. Group affiliation moderated the association between maternal antipathy and VS activation to social reward anticipation, with significant associations found in participants with PTSD and HVs, but not in those with MDD and SSD. Results were not associated with general psychopathology or psychotropic medication use. Childhood maternal antipathy may confer risk for aberrant social reward anticipation in adulthood, and may thus be considered in interventions targeting reward expectations from social interactions.

The Relationship of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Emotional Distress in Young Adults.

Emerging evidence notes increased depression, anxiety, and stress among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known about populations at increased risk for emotional distress as the pandemic continues. Persons with adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are one group that may be at higher risk for emotional distress. The aim of this study is to examine whether young adults, particularly Black young adults, with histories of ACEs report more emotional distress during the pandemic than those with no ACE exposure. Using a cross-sectional, quota sampling approach, 100 Black and 100 White young adults were recruited using online sources (e.g., University website, Facebook). Due to the pandemic, participants were screened via Zoom and, if eligible, completed a demographic questionnaire, emotional distress measures (i.e., anxiety, depression, stress), and the ACE Questionnaire online via a Qualtrics survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis examined the ACE and emotional distress relationship, and multigroup SEM assessed racial differences. High levels of both emotional distress and ACEs were observed. Black young adults reported significantly more ACEs than Whites. ACEs were significantly associated with each measure of emotional distress regardless of race or other covariates. Findings reveal that during the pandemic, persons exposed to ACEs reported greater emotional distress than those with no ACE exposure. Nurses must screen patients for both emotional distress and ACE to target those at higher risk for early intervention and initiate treatment as needed to mitigate long-term mental health consequences.

Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Diet, Exercise, and Sleep in Pre-adolescents.

To understand the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and diet, sleep, and exercise in pre-adolescents. Baseline and 1-year follow-up data from the adolescent brain and cognitive development (ABCD) study were analyzed (age 10-11, n=11,875). ACEs were measured by parent report at baseline. Three levels of ACEs were created: none, exposure to one ACE, and exposure to two or more ACEs. Health-promoting behaviors were assessed at 1 year. Diet quality was measured from parent report; sleep problems were measured by parent report, with higher scores indicating worse sleep; and amount of exercise was measured by youth report. Linear regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between ACEs and each health-promoting behavior, adjusting for family income and sex. Compared to children with no adversity, ACEs were associated with worse diet - one ACE (β=-0.30 [95% CI, -0.49 to -0.12], P=.002) and 2 or more ACEs (β=-0.56 [-0.78 to -0.34, P < .001). Similarly, ACEs were associated with poor sleep - one ACE (β=1.51 [1.00-2.03], P < .001) and 2 or more ACEs (β=2.96 [2.38-3.53], P < .001). Finally, amount of exercise was not different in children with ACEs - 2 or more ACEs (β=-0.24, 95% CI, -0.51 to 0.04, P=.08). ACEs in pre-adolescents show a dose-response relationship with unhealthy diet and sleep disruption. These findings suggest potential behaviors to target to mitigate the negative impact of childhood adversity on adult health.

Latent Classes of Adverse and Benevolent Childhood Experiences in a Multinational Sample of Parents and Their Relation to Parent, Child, and Family Functioning during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are known to contribute to later mental health. Conversely, Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) may buffer against mental health difficulties. The importance of ACEs and BCEs for mental health of both parents and children may be most obvious during periods of stress, with potential consequences for functioning of the family. Subgroups of ACEs and BCEs in parents during the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated and validated in relation to indices of parent, child, and family well-being. In May 2020, ACEs/BCEs were assessed in 547 parents of 5–18-year-old children from the U.K., U.S., Canada, and Australia. Subgroups of parents with varying levels of ACEs and BCEs were identified via latent class analysis. The subgroups were validated by examining associations between class membership and indices of parent and child mental health and family well-being. Four latent classes were identified: low-ACEs/high-BCEs, moderate-ACEs/high-BCEs, moderate-ACEs/low-BCEs, and high-ACEs/moderate-BCEs. Regardless of the extent of BCEs, there was an increased risk of parent and child mental health difficulties and family dysfunction among those reporting moderate-to-high levels of ACEs. Parents’ history of adversity may influence the mental health of their family. These findings highlight the importance of public health interventions for preventing early-life adversity.

Culture and individualistic self-construal moderate the relationships between childhood experiences and narcissistic personality psychopathology level in adulthood

Positive and adverse childhood experiences have a central role in the development of narcissistic personality psychopathology, and environmental and cultural factors interact in the shaping of personality psychopathology. A total of 805 participants from Turkey (n = 505) and Japan (n = 300) were recruited to assess whether culture and individualistic self-construal moderate the relationship between childhood experiences and narcissistic psychopathology, using the double moderation model. The Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) Scale and the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Scale were used to assess childhood experiences, the Self-Construal Scale (SCS) was used to assess individualistic self-construal, and narcissistic psychopathology was assessed using the Self-report Personality Questionnaire of the DSM-5 (SCID-5-SPQ). We found that narcissistic traits were more pronounced with low levels of positive childhood experiences, particularly in the Turkish sample and among those with high levels of individualistic self-construal. Also, narcissistic traits were more pronounced with high levels of adverse childhood experiences in both countries, particularly among those with high levels of individualistic self-construal. These results point to the importance of the role of societal and individual level cultural orientation in the relationship between childhood experiences and personality psychopathology.