Assessing the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and life satisfaction, psychological well-being, and social well-being: United States Longitudinal Cohort 1995-2014. Qual Life Res 2019 Apr;28(4):907-914
Date
11/24/2018Pubmed ID
30467779Pubmed Central ID
PMC6459973DOI
10.1007/s11136-018-2054-6Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85057087418 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 69 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: More than half of the U.S. population has experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACE), which are linked to physical and mental health issues. This study examines the relationship between ACEs and life satisfaction, psychological well-being, and social well-being.
METHODS: Data of 6323 participants from three waves of the Midlife Development in the United States (1995-1996, 2004-2006, and 2011-2014) were used. Repeated measures models were used to test the associations between ACEs and all three psychosocial scales. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to account for multiple survey measures. Adjusting for demographics and survey wave, GEE models were run for each ACE construct.
RESULTS: After controlling for demographic covariables, those reporting an ACE had significantly lower levels of life satisfaction (β = - 0.20, 95% CI - 0.26 to - 0.15) compared to those without an ACE. Those reporting higher ACE counts were associated with lower life satisfaction compared to those with no ACE (β = - 0.38, 95% CI - 0.56 to - 0.20; β = - 0.36, 95% CI - 0.46 to - 0.27; and β = - 0.13, 95% CI - 0.19 to - 0.08 for ACE counts of 3, 2, and 1, respectively). Abuse (β = - 0.41, 95% CI - 0.48 to - 0.33) and household dysfunction (β = - 0.18, 95% CI - 0.25 to - 0.10) were associated with significantly lower life satisfaction. Overall, those exposed to ACEs had significantly lower sense of social well-being.
CONCLUSION: In this sample of adults, ACEs were significantly associated with lower life satisfaction, lower psychological well-being, and lower social well-being, especially for those who report abuse and household dysfunction during childhood.
Author List
Mosley-Johnson E, Garacci E, Wagner N, Mendez C, Williams JS, Egede LEAuthors
Leonard E. Egede MD Center Director, Chief, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinCarlos Eduardo Mendez Castrillo MD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Joni Williams MD, MPH Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAged
Cohort Studies
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Personal Satisfaction
Quality of Life
United States
Young Adult
