The global impact of adverse childhood experiences on criminal behavior: A cross-continental study

Adverse and benevolent childhood experiences among adults in the United Kingdom: a latent class analysis

BACKGROUND

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are important factors for population mental and physical health. While considerable public health literature demonstrates the global relevance of ACEs, more recent research shows that benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) might be important to consider in their direct and mitigating roles for psychological distress and other mental health outcomes. There is little evidence of latent class examinations involving both ACEs and BCEs among adults in western nations. The present study sought to replicate and extend prior literature by: (1) assessing the extent to which past latent class groupings reproduce in present samples, and (2) analyzing the association of latent classes of childhood experiences with psychological distress and suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STBs). We examined psychological distress (i.e., depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, general wellbeing) and STBs (i.e., suicidal ideation, self-harm ideation and behaviour, entrapment, and defeat).

METHOD

Data were drawn from two nationwide cross-sectional online survey studies in the United Kingdom. The first sample (N = 488) was drawn from a study on suicidal behaviour, and the second sample (N = 447) was from a study concerning risk for interpersonal violence.

RESULTS

Results largely replicated an existing four class solution of childhood experiences: Class 1 (Moderate ACEs/High BCEs; 17.6%), Class 2 (High ACEs/Moderate BCEs; 15.3%), Class 3 (Low ACEs/High BCEs; 48.3%), and Class 4 (Low ACEs/Moderate BCEs; 18.8%). Class 2 (High ACEs/Moderate BCEs) was associated with consistently worse psychological distress and STBs. Classes containing high BCEs (1 and 3) were characterized by generally lower levels of psychological distress and STBs.

CONCLUSIONS

Results affirm the potential value for jointly considering ACEs and BCEs to understand psychological distress and STBs. ACEs and BCEs may serve foundational roles in theories of suicide. The protective role of BCEs hypothesized in resiliency theory may be supported. Prevention practice and research implications are discussed.

Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Young Adults and Adults: A Systematic Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Investigations have shown the different impacts that ACEs have on an individual's adult life, on both physical and mental health, but they have not yet shown the issue of the influence of ACEs on adults and young adults. Objective/Participants and Setting: This systematic review, performed according to the PRISMA norms and guidelines, intended to understand the most frequent outcomes of adverse childhood experiences in the life of young adults and adults.

METHODS

Studies were identified through multiple literature search databases at EBSCOhost, Web of Science, and PubMed April 2023, and a total of 279 studies, published between 1999 and 2002, were excluded, 256 because of multiple factors: being duplicates, showing statistical analysis with correlations only, being systematic reviews or case studies, comprising individuals under the age of 18, and not meeting the intended theme; ultimately, we selected for the review a total of 23 studies.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The impacts of the various articles are subdivided into three main themes: antisocial and criminal behaviour; sexual Behaviour and intimate partner violence; and attachment, quality of life, and therapeutic alliance.

A cross-cultural examination of adverse childhood experiences in low-and middle-income countries and their relation with adolescent educational aspirations

BACKGROUND

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur before the age of 18. Researchers have examined the negative associations between adversity and adolescent and adult outcomes, such as education and physical health. However, research on ACEs, and their association with other outcomes in non-western contexts is sparse.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aims to increase our understanding of the prevalence of ACEs - and their association with educational aspirations - in low- and middle-income country contexts.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

We utilize data from the Family Migration and Early Life Outcomes (FAMELO) project, a multi-site survey project that collected data from families in historically high-migration contexts. ACEs and educational aspirations were measured in children aged 11 to17 years in Mexico (n = 853), Mozambique (n = 651), and Nepal (n = 1180).

METHODS

We use Poisson regressions to examine the prevalence of ACEs in multiple cultures, and then use multinomial logistic regressions to examine whether ACEs are associated with educational aspirations, as a practical application of the utility of the ACEs framework in cross-cultural contexts.

RESULTS

Our results suggest that adolescents in Mozambique have a higher average number of ACEs (2.7) than adolescents in Mexico (1.4) and Nepal (1.3). Female adolescents reported fewer ACEs, while socioeconomic vulnerabilities (low-income and low parental education) were associated with higher exposure to ACEs, with differences by country. Lastly, ACEs were associated with lower educational aspirations in Mexico and Nepal.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study attempted to heed the call of many scholars who have pushed for an expansion of research on ACEs in non-western, low- and middle-income country contexts.

Adverse Childhood Experience-Related Conditions and Substance Use in Adolescents: A Secondary Analysis of Cross-Sectional Survey Data

BACKGROUND

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) cluster within children. In addition to standardized ACE measures, there exist "ACE-related" measures that are either directly or indirectly related to the standardized ACE constructs. This study aimed to identify ACE-related latent classes of adolescents and describe past-month substance use in each class by sex and race/ethnicity.

METHODS

Data from the 2018 Indiana Youth Survey (N = 70,703), which is a repeated self-administered, cross-sectional survey, were used. Latent class analysis was conducted using ACE-related family (parent incarceration, insulting/yelling within family, inability to discuss personal problems) and school (hate being in school, feeling unsafe, inability to talk to teachers one-on-one) items. Dependent variable combined past 30-day use-frequency of 17 substances. Two-way analysis of variances examined ACE by sex and race/ethnicity interaction.

RESULTS

Four ACE-related classes emerged: "Family-Only" (11.2%), "School-Only" (16.5%), "Family-School" (8.0%), and "No-ACE" (64.3%). Substance use was highest in "Family-School" (mean = 0.67); lowest in "No-ACE" (mean = 0.21). Significant race/ethnicity (F = 27.06; p < .0001), ACE * sex interaction (F = 12.13; p < .0001) and ACE * race/ethnicity interaction (F = 4.57; p < .0001) effects emerged. Within each ACE-related class, substance use was lowest for Asians and highest for Hispanics.

CONCLUSIONS

Adverse childhood experience-related items cluster within children across school and family environments and clustering differs by race/ethnicity, but not by sex. Incorporating ACE-related items into school surveys enhances the ability to implement interventions that target relationships between ACEs and substance use.

Protective role of resilience on the associations between childhood maltreatment and internalising and externalising problems

Different types of childhood maltreatment have negative effects on individual mental and behavioural outcomes. However, most of previous studies investigated their effects separately. Little is known about the effects of co-occurring maltreatment profiles on adolescents' developmental outcomes and the potential protective factor. The current study sought to identify distinct profiles of childhood maltreatment and examine the effects of profiles of childhood maltreatment on internalising and externalising problems and the protective role of resilience based on two-wave longitudinal data, which was collected from a sample of 670 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 15.50, SDage = 0.75, 48.4% boys). Four profiles of childhood maltreatment, that is, No maltreatment (67.9%), High neglect (23.0%), High abuse and neglect/Low sexual abuse (5.0%), and Multi-maltreatment (4.1%), were identified. Adolescents in High neglect, High abuse and neglect/Low sexual abuse, and Multi-maltreatment profiles were more likely to report internalising and externalising problems. Further, significant moderating effects of resilience only emerged for the association between the High neglect profile and internalising problems, such that high levels of resilience may weaken the association between the High neglect profile and internalising problems. Our findings revealed the importance and utility of identifying maltreatment profiles to tailor treatment based on specific maltreatment experiences. Resilience-oriented intervention could be considered for Chinese adolescents who have experienced high neglect.

Patterns of adverse childhood experiences and their associations with mental distress, substance use and sexual risk behaviors in Sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND

Multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poor sexual and mental health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Less well understood is how discrete and gendered clustering of ACEs may influence health.

OBJECTIVE

To assess how multiple ACEs co-occur and how dominant patterns of co-occurrence are associated with mental distress, substance use, and sexual risk behaviors among young women and men in Sub-Saharan Africa.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

We used pooled data of young men and women aged 19-24 from comparable, nationally representative Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS) conducted in Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Namibia (nf = 7183; nm = 2207).

METHODS

We estimated sex-disaggregated latent classes of six ACEs among young women and men. We ran Bolck-Croon-Hagenaars (BCH) distal outcome analysis to test the sex-stratified relationships between ACEs latent classes and health outcomes.

RESULTS

A six class solution best fit the female data. Classes included witnessing violence and experiencing physical violence (PV); experiencing PV; high ACEs; witnessing community violence; orphanhood; and low ACEs exposure. Among males, the best-fitting three-class solution included experiencing PV and witnessing community violence; high ACEs; and low ACEs exposure. Membership in the high ACEs class was associated with mental distress among females and males, and substance use among males. No differences in sexual risk behavior were identified by class membership among either females or males.

CONCLUSIONS

Discrete clusters of co-occurring ACEs are associated with elevated odds of mental distress among females, and mental distress and substance use among males. Preventing ACEs may improve mental health among young women and men in LMICs in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Associations with Mental Health, Substance Use, and Violence Perpetration among Young Adults in sub-Saharan Africa

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have debilitating effects on child well-being, with consequences persisting into adulthood. Most ACE studies have been conducted in high-income countries and show a graded relationship between multiple ACE exposures and adverse health outcomes. Less is known about the types and burden of ACEs in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Objective

To estimate the pooled prevalence of six individual and cumulative ACE exposures (physical, sexual, and emotional violence; orphanhood; witnessing interparental and community violence) and assess their association with mental health outcomes, substance use, and violence perpetration among young adults in SSA.

Participants and setting

Aggregate data from the Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) in Cote d'Ivoire 2018, Kenya 2019, Lesotho 2018, Mozambique 2019, and Namibia 2019 included a sample of 11,498 young adults aged 18-24 years.

Methods

Cumulative ACEs were defined by an integer count of the total number of individual ACEs (0 to 6). Weighted prevalence and adjusted odds ratios were estimated.

Result

ACEs prevalence ranged from 7.8% (emotional violence) to 55.0% (witnessing community violence). Strong graded relationships between cumulative ACE exposure and all study outcomes for both males and females were observed. Among females, witnessing interparental violence was the only individual ACE risk factor significantly associated with increased odds of substance use; among males, emotional violence was significantly associated with all outcomes.

Conclusion

ACEs are associated with adverse mental health, substance use, and violence perpetration in SSA. Gender-specific and culturally sensitive intervention strategies are needed to effectively mitigate ACEs in this population.

Assessment of adverse childhood experiences, undernutrition symptoms and gender among sample of medical students in Fallujah University - Iraq: A preliminary study

BACKGROUND

Adverse childhood experiences is considered as major risk factor for several health problems and diseases during adulthood, such as hypertension, IHD, and eating disorders. The aim of current study was to measure the association between ACEs and malnutrition symptoms among sample of medical students in Fallujah University.

METHODS

A convenience sample was used to recruit the participants; the data collection was carried out during December 2022. The questionnaire consisted from questions for demographical variables, questions for adverse childhood experiences and Short Nutritional Questionnaire was used for assessing the undernutrition symptoms among the subjects.

RESULTS

Female subjects consisted 62.8% of the sample, 28.3% of the students had zero score of adverse childhood experience, 13% of the subjects had one score of ACEs and 45% of the participants had four or more of ACEs score. There was a statistically non- significant association between exposure to ACEs and undernutrition symptoms, p > .05. The logistic regression model revealed that female subjects had a risk of five folds for loss of appetite compare to male subjects (OR = 5.58, 95% CI [2.18, 14.31]). The females also had three folds for using nutritional supplement due to nutritional deficiencies compare to males (OR = 3.28, 95% CI [1.33, 8.1]).

CONCLUSION

ACEs was not associated with undernutrition symptoms. Gender is significantly related with loss of appetite and using the nutritional supplement.

Measuring adverse childhood experiences with latent class trajectories

BACKGROUND

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with several negative health and behavioral outcomes during adolescence, but most of the extant research has employed ACEs scores at one or two time points. Studies have not assessed whether latent class ACEs trajectories affect adolescent problem behaviors and conditions.

OBJECTIVES

We used longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS, n = 3444) to assess ACEs at several time points and empirically developed latent class trajectories. We then examined the sociodemographic characteristics of youth who belonged to each trajectory group. We next evaluated whether the ACEs trajectories during childhood were associated with delinquent behavior, substance use, and symptoms of anxiety or depression. Finally, we explored whether closeness to mother buffered the impact of ACEs on these outcomes.

METHODS

Eight types of ACEs were captured in the FFCWS data. ACE scores were assessed at year one, three, five, and nine, along with the outcomes during year 15. Trajectories were estimated with a semiparametric latent class models.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed three latent trajectories during childhood: a low/none ACEs group, a medium exposure group, and a high exposure group. Adolescents in the high exposure group manifested a heightened risk of involvement in delinquent behaviors and substance use. They also reported more symptoms of anxiety and depression than their peers in the low/none and medium exposure groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated exposure to ACEs during childhood can have serious negative repercussions in the lives of adolescents, but maternal closeness may buffer their effects. Scholars should continue to examine the dynamics of ACEs exposure during childhood by using empirical approaches appropriate for identifying age-graded trajectories.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and the risk of violent crime conviction in Sweden: a nationwide, register-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been linked to violent crime in veteran populations. However, whether there is a link between PTSD and violent crime in the general population is not known. This study aimed to investigate the hypothesised association between PTSD and violent crime in the Swedish general population and to investigate the extent to which familial factors might explain this association using unaffected sibling control individuals.

METHODS

This nationwide, register-based cohort study assessed individuals born in Sweden in 1958-93 for eligibility for inclusion. Individuals who died or emigrated before their 15th birthday, were adopted, were twins, or whose biological parents could not be identified were excluded. Participants were identified and included from the National Patient Register (1973-2013), the Multi-Generation Register (1932-2013), the Total Population Register (1947-2013), and the National Crime Register (1973-2013). Participants with PTSD were matched (1:10) with randomly selected control individuals from the population without PTSD by birth year, sex, and county of residence in the year of PTSD diagnosis for the matched individual. Each participant was followed up from the date of matching (ie, the index person's first PTSD diagnosis) until violent crime conviction or until being censored at emigration, death, or Dec 31, 2013, whichever occurred first. Stratified Cox regressions were used to estimate the hazard ratio of time to violent crime conviction ascertained from national registers in individuals with PTSD compared with control individuals. To account for familial confounding, sibling analyses were conducted, comparing the risk of violent crime in a subsample of individuals with PTSD with their unaffected full biological siblings.

FINDINGS

Of 3 890 765 eligible individuals, 13 119 had a PTSD diagnosis (9856 [75·1%] of whom were female and 3263 [24·9%] of whom were male), were matched with 131 190 individuals who did not, and were included in the matched cohort. 9114 individuals with PTSD and 14 613 full biological siblings without PTSD were also included in the sibling cohort. In the sibling cohort, 6956 (76·3%) of 9114 participants were female and 2158 (23·7%) were male. Cumulative incidence of violent crime convictions after 5 years was 5·0% (95% CI 4·6-5·5) in individuals diagnosed with PTSD versus 0·7% (0·6-0·7) in individuals without PTSD. At the end of follow-up (median follow-up time 4·2 years, IQR 2·0-7·6), cumulative incidence was 13·5% (11·3-16·6) versus 2·3% (1·9-2·6). Individuals with PTSD had a significantly higher risk of violent crime than the matched control population in the fully-adjusted model (hazard ratio [HR] 6·4, 95% CI 5·7-7·2). In the sibling cohort, the risk of violent crime was also significantly higher in the siblings with PTSD (3·2, 2·6-4·0).

INTERPRETATION

PTSD was associated with increased risk of violent crime conviction, even after controlling for familial effects shared by siblings and in the absence of SUD or a history of violent crime. Although our results might not be generalisable to less severe or undetected PTSD, our study could inform interventions that aim to reduce violent crime in this vulnerable population.

FUNDING

None.

Disruptive behaviors, antisocial attitudes, and aggression in young offenders: Comparison of Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) typologies

BACKGROUND

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) are associated with many deleterious outcomes in young offenders. There is a dearth of studies examining its effects on young offenders' antisocial attitudes, disruptive behaviors and aggression, risk factors for delinquency and reoffending.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined ACE patterns and their association with the above factors in young offenders.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

1130 youth offenders (964 males; M_age = 17.57 years), provided self-reports on ACEs, antisocial attitudes, disruptive behavior ratings and aggression.

METHOD

Latent Class Analysis was performed on 12 self-reported ACEs, followed by Analyses of Covariance on each of the measures.

RESULTS

Four classes - Low ACE, Indirect Victims, Abusive Environment, and Polyvictimized - were identified. Polyvictimized youths had the highest levels of conduct problems (M = 70.35, ps < .05) and proactive aggression (M = 0.45, ps < .05) but did not differ from youths in Abusive Environment in reactive aggression (M = 1.02, p = .69), oppositional problems (M = 65.15, p = .18), and antisocial attitudes (M = 26.95, p = .21). Indirect Victims had lower levels of conduct problems (M = 64.80, p < .05) and antisocial attitudes (M = 24.35, p < .05) than Polyvictimized youths but higher levels of these outcomes than the Low ACE group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings showed that ACEs patterns vary in their effects on antisociality and disruptive behaviors. The novel finding was that childhood victimization does not have to be direct, as indirect victimization significantly impacted factors important to delinquency and reoffending.

Childhood Traumatic Experiences and Negative Alcohol-Related Consequences in Adulthood: A Cross-Cultural Examination of Distress Tolerance and Drinking to Cope

Background: Prior research has established that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) predict harmful alcohol use outcomes. However, underlying mechanisms that could explain these associations are less clear. The present study examined if ACEs are indirectly related to alcohol negative consequences through their associations with distress tolerance and drinking to cope. Method: A sample of 3,763 (71.9% female) college students who drink alcohol from seven countries (U.S., Argentina, Canada, Uruguay, Spain, South Africa, and England) completed online surveys. Path analysis was performed within the whole sample testing the serial unique associations between ACEs→distress tolerance→drinking to cope→negative alcohol-related consequences. Multi-group analysis was performed to determine if the proposed pathways were invariant across gender and countries. Results: Both distress tolerance and drinking to cope uniquely accounted for the relationship between ACEs and negative alcohol-related consequences. Additionally, a significant double-mediation effect was found illustrating that a higher endorsement of ACEs was associated with lower distress tolerance, which in turn was associated with higher drinking to cope, which in turn was associated with more negative alcohol-related consequences. These effects were invariant across countries and gender groups. Conclusions: These findings provide support for the relevance of distress tolerance and coping motives as potential factors in linking ACEs to problematic alcohol use across nations. Our data are consistent with the idea that intervening on distress tolerance and drinking motives could mitigate downstream alcohol-related consequences related to ACEs in college student populations around the world.

A latent profile analysis of child maltreatment among at-risk youth gang members: Associations with violent delinquency, non-violent delinquency, and gang organizational structures

BACKGROUND

The relationship between child maltreatment and later delinquency is an enduring concern worldwide. However, the maltreatment-delinquency relationship is relatively underexplored in youth gang populations. Consequently, to date, studies have not examined typologies of maltreatment and their associations with violent delinquency, non-violent delinquency, and gang organizational structures.

OBJECTIVE

First, to identify the characteristics of subgroups of youth gang members who varied in abuse type and severity within type. Second, to determine in what ways the profiles differed in terms of gang organizational structures, violent delinquency, and non-violent delinquency.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTINGS

A sample of 161 youth gang members (mean age: 16.8; range: 12-24) were recruited and surveyed by outreach social workers in Hong Kong.

METHODS

Latent profile analysis was first used to examine heterogeneity in victimization experiences (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect). Thereafter, non-parametric tests and post-hoc analyses were conducted to examine associations between the yielded typologies of maltreatment and gang organizational structures, violent delinquency, and non-violent delinquency.

RESULTS

Poly-victimization was prevalent in the sample, with 148 respondents (91.9 %) reporting at least two types of past abuses. Three profiles of maltreatment emerged, varying in abuse types and severity within types: 'Minimally maltreated', 'Moderately maltreated, except sexual abuse', and 'Severely maltreated'. In comparison to the 'Minimal' maltreatment profile, the 'Moderate' and 'Severe' profiles were associated with greater delinquent behaviors and being in gangs that encouraged congregate illegal behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a relationship between typologies of maltreatment and gang organizational structures, violent delinquency, and non-violent delinquency in the sample of youth gang members. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Health in Rural Areas of Riyadh Province in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their consequences are a worldwide problem. ACEs are primary stressors that have a long-term impact on the body and mind during development. They are linked to a variety of chronic illnesses in adults. Information about ACEs and health and risk behaviors is scarce among rural populations. The study aimed to examine ACEs, chronic diseases, and risk behaviors, as well as to explore the relationship between them and number of sociodemographic factors among adults living in rural areas in Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional design and a convenience sampling method were utilized to collect information. A self-reported questionnaire, including an ACEs questionnaire as well as direct health and risk behaviors questions, was used. In total, 68.2% of the respondents reported at least one ACE, and 34.2% reported four or more ACEs. Emotional and physical abuse were the most reported forms. Hypertension and chronic respiratory disease were the most reported chronic diseases. Depression and anxiety were associated with ACEs, indicating that those who reported four or more ACEs were more likely to develop depression and anxiety. ACEs contribute to many negative health outcomes; thus, identifying the prevalence of ACEs among the rural population is essential for future health-related actions. It is also important that chronic diseases and risk behaviors be specifically identified among the rural population in order to prioritize these actions. Future research should further investigate ACEs and other determinants of health among the rural population, taking into consideration the inclusion of more diverse people, such as older adults and those from other rural areas.

Epidemiology of compassion: A literature review

Psychology and neuroscience have contributed significantly to advances in understanding compassion. In contrast, little attention has been given to the epidemiology of compassion. The human experience of compassion is heterogeneous with respect to time, place, and person. Therefore, compassion has an epidemiology, although little is known about the factors that account for spatial or temporal clustering of compassion or how these factors might be harnessed to promote and realize a more compassionate world. We reviewed the scientific literature to describe what is known about “risk factors” for compassion towards others. Studies were included if they used quantitative methods, treated compassion as an outcome, and used measures of compassion that included elements of empathy and action to alleviate suffering. Eighty-two studies met the inclusion criteria; 89 potential risk factors were tested 418 times for association with compassion. Significant associations with compassion were found for individual demographic factors (e.g., gender, religious faith); personal characteristics (e.g., emotional intelligence, perspective-taking, secure attachment); personal experience (e.g., previous adversity); behaviors (e.g., church attendance); circumstantial factors during the compassion encounter (e.g., perceptions of suffering severity, relational proximity of the compassion-giver and -receiver, emotional state of the compassion-giver); and organizational features. Few studies explored the capacity to receive, rather than give, compassion. Definitions and measures of compassion varied widely across disciplines; 87% of studies used self-report measures and 39% used a cross-sectional design. Ten randomized clinical trials documented the effectiveness of compassion training. From an epidemiologic perspective, most studies treated compassion as an individual host factor rather than as transmissible or influenced by time or the environment. The causal pathways leading from suffering to a compassionate response appear to be non-linear and complex. A variety of factors (acting as effect modifiers) appear to be permissive of—or essential for—the arising of compassion in certain settings or specific populations. Future epidemiologic research on compassion should take into account contextual and environmental factors and should elucidate compassion-related dynamics within organizations and human systems. Such research should be informed by a range of epidemiologic tools and methods, as well as insights from other scientific disciplines and spiritual and religious traditions.