Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Parents Affect Their Children's Development

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including childhood abuse (physical, sexual, or emotional), neglect (physical or emotional), and household dysfunction (divorce, violence, substance abuse, mental illness, or incarceration), have been linked to poorer mental and physical health in adults. Two studies examine whether ACEs among parents could be a mechanism for intergenerational transmission of health risks.

The first study recruited 311 mothers and 122 fathers attending a pediatric primary care clinic with their infants. At the 4-month well-child exam, parents reported their histories of ACEs, and at 24 months, developmental delay was assessed with the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3). History of ≥3 maternal ACEs was associated with …