The Effects of Childhood Adversity on Adult Psychological Stress
Adverse childhood experiences (ACES), referring to traumatic events during childhood and adolescence, have been shown to correlate with several negative outcomes relating to health and wellness later on in life. From psychological abuse to witnessing domestic violence, ACEs represent a wide variety of harmful situations and, thus, are incredibly common, with approximately one in six adults reporting that they have experienced at least four types of ACEs as youth. Such traumatic experiences present as major stressors for children and have been shown to correlate with distinct changes on neurobiological and physiological levels, subsequently increasing the risk of developing psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression, as well as chronic conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. ACEs are known to decrease overall life expectancy by approximately 20 years relative to individuals without ACEs.
As the general understanding of ACEs develops, community-level ACEs are being integrated into a continuously emerging organization of childhood adversity to extend the initial understanding beyond family-level traumas. Such situations are known as expanded ACEs, primarily referring to traumatic experiences that characterize marginalized communities and relate to structural factors such as systemic oppression.
Acute and chronic consequences following exposure to ACEs have motivated researchers to study the early onset of toxic stress from psychological perspectives, and recent efforts in particular are aimed at examining the enduring effects of ACEs as observed in adulthood.
With the evolving examination of community-level stressors and the relatively recent incorporation of expanded ACEs, the same objectives in determining the effects of family-level childhood trauma during adulthood are now being applied to expanded ACEs as well.
As the general understanding of ACEs develops, community-level ACEs are being integrated into a continuously emerging organization of childhood adversity to extend the initial understanding beyond family-level traumas. Such situations are known as expanded ACEs, primarily referring to traumatic experiences that characterize marginalized communities and relate to structural factors such as systemic oppression.
Acute and chronic consequences following exposure to ACEs have motivated researchers to study the early onset of toxic stress from psychological perspectives, and recent efforts in particular are aimed at examining the enduring effects of ACEs as observed in adulthood.
With the evolving examination of community-level stressors and the relatively recent incorporation of expanded ACEs, the same objectives in determining the effects of family-level childhood trauma during adulthood are now being applied to expanded ACEs as well.
Expanded ACEs arise from structural racism and violence, perpetuating the marginalization of communities of color.
Image Source: Cottonbro Studio
One such study from 2024 sought to explore the relationship between expanded ACEs and adult psychological distress in a nationwide online cohort in Japan. Specifically, data from Japan's national COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS) were collected, including demographic information, ACE questionnaires, and scales for psychological distress based on the DSM-IV for mood and anxiety disorders. With these measures, researchers sought to evaluate associations between expanded ACES and adult mental health, with a specific focus on childhood poverty, school bullying, and natural disasters.
Results revealed that the prevalence of severe psychological distress experienced during adulthood showed a significant positive correlation with the corresponding participants’ number of ACEs. The highest prevalence of extreme distress was reported where individuals had four or more ACEs, with younger individuals (18 - 25 years) exhibiting a significantly higher prevalence of severe distress than older individuals (25 - 34 years).
Emotional neglect, childhood poverty, and bullying were recorded as the most highly prevalent ACEs experienced by the population, though all of the ACEs represented in the questionnaire were also significantly related to negative impacts on adults’ mental health later on in life.
Of the expanded ACEs, school bullying displayed a significant correlation with mental health challenges experienced in adulthood. Similarly, natural disasters taking place during childhood corresponded with significantly more severe scores for psychological distress in surveyed adults. Childhood poverty, the final expanded ACE of interest, demonstrated varying degrees of influence on adult mental health, with lesser effects being observed in older populations. Despite the variation due to age, the relationship between childhood poverty and adult psychological distress was still considered significant.
The finding of significant associations between poverty, bullying, and natural disasters with adult distress has not only solidified original understandings of early childhood adversity but extended this understanding to include community-level stressors specifically concerning long-term psychological outcomes. As research highlighting these relationships continues, targeted intervention, detection, and prevention efforts can be developed to better identify and respond to community-based forms of adversity. In doing so, resilience can be nurtured and maintained collectively.
Results revealed that the prevalence of severe psychological distress experienced during adulthood showed a significant positive correlation with the corresponding participants’ number of ACEs. The highest prevalence of extreme distress was reported where individuals had four or more ACEs, with younger individuals (18 - 25 years) exhibiting a significantly higher prevalence of severe distress than older individuals (25 - 34 years).
Emotional neglect, childhood poverty, and bullying were recorded as the most highly prevalent ACEs experienced by the population, though all of the ACEs represented in the questionnaire were also significantly related to negative impacts on adults’ mental health later on in life.
Of the expanded ACEs, school bullying displayed a significant correlation with mental health challenges experienced in adulthood. Similarly, natural disasters taking place during childhood corresponded with significantly more severe scores for psychological distress in surveyed adults. Childhood poverty, the final expanded ACE of interest, demonstrated varying degrees of influence on adult mental health, with lesser effects being observed in older populations. Despite the variation due to age, the relationship between childhood poverty and adult psychological distress was still considered significant.
The finding of significant associations between poverty, bullying, and natural disasters with adult distress has not only solidified original understandings of early childhood adversity but extended this understanding to include community-level stressors specifically concerning long-term psychological outcomes. As research highlighting these relationships continues, targeted intervention, detection, and prevention efforts can be developed to better identify and respond to community-based forms of adversity. In doing so, resilience can be nurtured and maintained collectively.
Featured Image Source: Franz26
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