Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation in a high-risk sample of children, adolescents and young adults in residential youth care – Associations with adverse childhood experiences and mental health problems

2020 ◽  
Vol 284 ◽  
pp. 112778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Clemens ◽  
David Bürgin ◽  
Anne Eckert ◽  
Nina Kind ◽  
Claudia Dölitzsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Youth Care ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Residential Youth Care ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Pituitary Adrenal Axis

scholarly journals Adverse childhood experiences and psychological distress among higher education students in Southeast Nigeria: an institutional-based cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olaoluwa Samson Agbaje ◽  
Chinwe Patience Nnaji ◽  
Evelyn Nwanabe Nwagu ◽  
Cylia Nkechi Iweama ◽  
Prince Christian Ifeanachor Umoke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood

Abstract Background Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) constitutes public health problems linked to adverse mental outcomes such as psychological distress during adulthood. This study examines the prevalence of ACEs and psychological distress and explores the association between ACEs and psychological distress and demographic factors among young adults. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 330 students from May 2018 to July 2018. The participants completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ), Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), and the sociodemographic profile scale. We used descriptive statistics to describe the prevalence of ACEs and psychological distress in our sample. After adjusting for the demographic covariates, ACEs’ association with psychological distress was determined using binary and multivariate logistic regressions. Results A total of 203 students with a mean age of 20.76 ± 2.73 years completed the study. The total mean ACE score was 4.58 ± 1.59, and the total mean psychological distress score was 20.76 ± 6.31. Most of the participants (86.7%) experienced ACEs, 14.8% reported experiencing one ACE, 30.5% reported experiencing 2–3 ACEs, and 41.3% reported experiencing 4+ ACEs. Further, about 85% of the youth have experienced at least one form of sexual abuse during childhood, and females reported a higher number of ACEs than males. Sexual abuse (OR = 2.36; 95% CI: 2.36, 7.65), physical neglect (OR = 2.87; 95% CI: 1.57, 5.31), overall ACE exposure (OR = 6.66; 95% CI: 2.41, 18.42), having 1 ACE (OR = 4.40; 95% CI: 1.32, 14.70), having 2–3 ACEs (OR = 4.13; 95% CI: 1.39, 12.29), and having 4+ (OR = 11.67; 95% CI: 3.95, 34.45) were significantly associated with psychological distress. Conclusions ACEs are prevalent among young adults and are associated with psychological distress in adulthood. Furthermore, parental factors are associated with ACEs and psychological distress. Thus, implementation of school, community-and facility-based routine mental health screening programs is essential for prompt identification, prevention, and treatment of youth with childhood adversities and poor mental health outcomes.

Adverse Childhood Experiences in Parents and Their Effects on Adult Children

2021 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2110300
Author(s):  
Simona L. Seteanu ◽  
Cezar Giosan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Adult Children ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Psychological Consequences ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Negative Parenting ◽  
Intact Families ◽  
Adverse Childhood

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are associated with negative psychological consequences later in life, for both the victims and their children. The present study examines the links between parents’ ACE and psychological outcomes in their adult children. A sample of 162 participants from 54 intact families with adult children was evaluated for ACE history and current mental health. Results showed that ACE was a predictor of mental health for all the participants, explaining 31.2% of the variance. Furthermore, parents’ ACE, negative parenting, and parents’ marital satisfaction had a significant influence on their adult children’s mental health. The results also showed that fathers’ ACE are associated with negative parenting, as well as their adult children’s ACE and self-reported psychopathological symptoms. These results point to the importance of examining multiple familial factors in the development of psychopathology in young adults. Limitations of the study are also presented.

scholarly journals Exploring the health and service utilisation of general practice patients with a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): an observational study using electronic health records

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e036239
Author(s):  
Katie Hardcastle ◽  
Mark A Bellis ◽  
Catherine A Sharp ◽  
Karen Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Service Utilisation ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
History Of

ObjectivesTo examine the relationships between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), chronic health and health service utilisation among a sample of general practice patients.DesignCross-sectional observational study using anonymised data from electronic health records for 763 patients.SettingFour general practices in northwest England and North Wales.Outcome measuresPatient demographic data (age, gender); body mass index; self-reported smoking status; self-reported ACEs; diagnosis of chronic health conditions; current mental health problems; total number of service contacts and repeat medication use in the previous 6 months.ResultsA history of ACEs (experiencing abuse or neglect as a child, and/or growing up in a household characterised by violence, substance use, mental health problems or criminal behaviour) was strongly independently associated with current mental health problems, smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, showing a dose–response relationship with level of ACE exposure. Medication use and contact were significantly greater among patients with high ACE exposure (≥4 ACEs), compared with those with no ACEs. However, contrary to findings from population studies, health service utilisation was not significantly different for patients with increased ACE exposure (1–3 ACEs) and their ACE-free counterparts.ConclusionsFindings highlight the contribution ACEs make to unequal distributions of risk to health and well-being and patterns of health service use in the UK.

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