Adverse Psychosocial Experiences in Childhood Affect Adult Health

Long-term consequences of adverse childhood experiences persist into adulthood.

Twelve years ago, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study (Am J Prev Med 1998; 14:245) showed that childhood maltreatment and family dysfunction contribute to many leading causes of death in adults. One major limitation of that study was that the data were derived from adult recall of childhood events. Investigators prospectively examined the association between adverse childhood experiences and adult disease in a longitudinal birth-cohort study (1972–1973) from one community in New Zealand.

The 1037 newborns (91% of eligible births) enrolled in the study represented the full range of socioeconomic status (SES) in the general population. Adverse psychosocial experiences (SES disadvantage, maltreatment, and social isolation) were assess…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics