Association of adverse childhood experiences with functional identity and impulsivity among adults: a cross-sectional study

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Binge Drinking in Adolescence: the Role of Impulsivity and PTSD Symptoms

Background

The present study examines impulsivity and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as factors that may help understand the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adolescent binge drinking.

Methods

Data were drawn from a subset of adolescents (N = 285) ages 12-22 from the National Consortium on Alcohol & Neurodevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA). Impulsivity and PTSD symptoms were each predicted to moderate the relationship between ACEs and binge drinking.

Results

The positive relationship between PTSD symptoms and binge drinking was stronger when impulsivity was included. The positive relationship between ACEs and binge drinking was also strengthened when accounting for PTSD symptoms.

Conclusion

Our results provide evidence that impulsivity and PTSD symptoms may increase the risk for binge drinking during adolescence, including following ACEs. Interventions targeting PTSD symptoms and impulsivity could be valuable tools in preventing adolescent binge drinking.

Childhood emotional abuse and motor impulsiveness among male violent inmates with antisocial personality disorder

This study aimed to explore the relationship among childhood maltreatment, impulsiveness and antisocial personality through a questionnaire survey of violent male inmates. We found that the scores of inmates with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) in Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-28 item Short Form (CTQ-SF) and Barratt Impulsive Scale-11 (BIS-11) were higher than those in the Non-Antisocial personality group, and there was a significant correlation between the scores of CTQ-SF and BIS-11. We found that the interaction between impulsivity and childhood abuse predicts ASPD levels. Moreover, motor and non-planning impulsiveness played important roles in the observed differences in antisocial personality scores among the inmates who had experienced childhood maltreatment; motor impulsiveness was mainly related to emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse, while non-planning impulsiveness was mainly related to emotional neglect and physical neglect. These findings suggest that identifying and providing timely intervention for inmates with high impulsiveness who experienced maltreatment in childhood may also contribute to the prevention of violent behavior and to better prison management.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Weight Stigma: Co-Occurrence and Associations with Psychological Well-Being

Prior research has demonstrated that individuals with a higher body weight (i.e., obesity) have a relatively high incidence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) (e.g., abuse, neglect). Individuals with obesity are also susceptible to experiencing and internalizing weight stigma. Negative physical and mental health consequences have been associated with both ACEs and weight stigma, yet the interplay between these factors has not been explored. The current study examined ACEs in a sample of 105 treatment-seeking adults with obesity who all reported having experienced and internalized weight stigma (90.5% women, 70.5% non-Hispanic White, mean age=49.1 years). The study aimed to 1) provide a descriptive overview of rates of ACEs in this unique sample of adults with potentially high psychological vulnerability and 2) assess associations between ACEs, weight stigma, and psychological well-being. Over three-fourths of participants (76.2%) reported experiencing at least one ACE. The total number of ACEs was significantly associated with more frequent experiences of and greater distress about weight stigma during childhood, as well as higher current perceived stress. Experiencing weight stigma for the first time in childhood was also associated with more reported ACEs. ACEs of abuse were associated with more lifetime reported experiences of weight stigma and greater internalization, use of eating as a strategy to cope with weight stigma, and higher perceived stress. These findings have implications for early identification of and tailored interventions for individuals who have experienced adverse events and weight stigma at a young age.

Impulsivity mediates the impact of early life adversity on high risk behaviors among Tunisian adolescents

Adverse childhood experience (ACE) has become an alarming phenomenon exposing youth at a great risk of developing mental health issues. Several studies have examined the mechanism by which ACE affects adolescent's engagement in risky behaviors. However, little is known about these associations in the Tunisian/African context. We investigated the role of impulsivity in the link between ACE and health risk behaviors among schooled adolescents in Tunisia. We performed a cross sectional study among 1940 schooled adolescents in the city of Mahdia (Tunisia) from January to February 2020. To measure ACE, we used the validated Arabic version of the World Health Organization ACE questionnaire. The Barratt Impulsivity Scale and the Internet Addiction Test were used as screening tools for impulsivity and internet addiction. A total of 2520 adolescents were recruited. Of those, 1940 returned the questionnaires with an overall response rate of 77%. The majority (97.5%) reported experiencing at least one ACE. Emotional neglect (83.2%) and witnessing community violence (73.5%) were the most reported intra-familial ACEs. Males had higher rates of exposure to social violence than females. The most common risky behavior was internet addiction (50%, 95%CI = [47.9-52.3%]). Our survey revealed that ACEs score predict problematic behaviors through impulsiveness (% mediated = 16.7%). Specifically, we found a major mediating role of impulsivity between the exposure to ACE and the risk of internet addiction (% mediated = 37.5%). Our results indicate the role of impulsivity in translating the risk associated with ACE leading to engagement in high risk behaviors.

Research on Relationships between Sexual Identity, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury among Rural High School Students in Less Developed Areas of China

Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the influence of sexual identity and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among rural high school students in less developed areas of China. Methods: Behavior risk factors data collected from 1810 students from a high school in Jiangxi province, China. Five measures of childhood abuse and household dysfunction were summarized, and ACE was divided into 0, 1, 2, 3–5 ACEs. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influence of sexual identity, adverse childhood experiences, and their interaction with non-suicidal self-injury. Results: Compared with heterosexual students, high school students who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) have a higher tendency of non-suicidal self-injury (AOR = 3.250, 95% CI = 1.69–6.28, p < 0.01). There was also a graded relationship between cumulative ACEs exposure and non-suicidal self-injury behaviors (AOR = 1.627, 95% CI = 1.02–2.60, p < 0.05). Odds for NSSI are higher among students with both experienced ACEs and identified as LGB (AOR = 2.821, 95% CI = 1.51–5.29, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Non-suicidal self-injury is associated with ACEs exposure and with those who identify as LGB, and the NSSI odds are greater when students identify as LGB and have experienced ACEs. More interventions to reduce non-suicidal self-injury should focus on LGB and ACEs and more attention needs to be paid to those who identify as LGB and have been exposed to ACEs.