%0 Journal Article %J Child Abuse Negl %D 2015 %T Life course pathways of adverse childhood experiences toward adult psychological well-being: A stress process analysis. %A Nurius, Paula S %A Green, Sara %A Logan-Greene, Patricia %A Borja, Sharon %K Activities of Daily Living %K Adaptation, Psychological %K Adult %K Adult Survivors of Child Abuse %K Aged %K Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System %K Crime Victims %K Female %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Male %K Mental Health %K Middle Aged %K Multivariate Analysis %K Personal Satisfaction %K Regression Analysis %K Socioeconomic Factors %K Stress, Psychological %K Washington %X

Growing evidence suggests that toxic stressors early in life not only convey developmental impacts but also augment risk of proliferating chains of additional stressors that can overwhelm individual coping and undermine recovery and health. Examining trauma within a life course stress process perspective, we posit that early childhood adversity carries a unique capacity to impair adult psychological well-being both independent of and cumulative with other contributors, including social disadvantage and stressful adult experiences. This study uses data from a representative population-based health survey (N=13,593) to provide one of the first multivariate assessments of unique, cumulative, and moderated effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) toward explaining 3 related yet distinct measures of adult mental health: perceived well-being, psychological distress, and impaired daily activities. Results demonstrate support for each set of hypothesized associations, including exacerbation and amelioration of ACEs effects by adult stress and resilience resources, respectively. Implications for services and future research are discussed.

%B Child Abuse Negl %V 45 %P 143-53 %8 2015 Jul %G eng %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25846195?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.03.008 %0 Journal Article %J Soc Work Health Care %D 2014 %T Distinct contributions of adverse childhood experiences and resilience resources: a cohort analysis of adult physical and mental health. %A Logan-Greene, Patricia %A Green, Sara %A Nurius, Paula S %A Longhi, Dario %K Adaptation, Psychological %K Adolescent %K Adult %K Age Distribution %K Aged %K Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System %K Child Abuse %K Cohort Studies %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Life Change Events %K Male %K Mental Health %K Middle Aged %K Regression Analysis %K Resilience, Psychological %K Self Concept %K Stress, Psychological %K Washington %K Young Adult %X

Although evidence is rapidly amassing as to the damaging potential of early life adversities on physical and mental health, as yet few investigations provide comparative snapshots of these patterns across adulthood. This population-based study addresses this gap, examining the relationship of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to physical and mental health within a representative sample (n = 19,333) of adults, comparing the prevalence and explanatory strength of ACEs among four birth cohorts spanning ages 18-79. This assessment accounts for demographic and socioeconomic factors, as well as both direct and moderating effects of resilience resources (social/emotional support, life satisfaction, and sleep quality). Findings demonstrate (1) increasing trends of reported ACEs across younger cohorts, including time period shifts such as more prevalent family incarceration, substance abuse, and divorce, (2) significant bivariate as well as independent associations of ACEs with poor health within every cohort, controlling for multiple covariates (increasing trends in older age for physical health), and (3) robust patterns wherein resilience resources moderated ACEs, indicating buffering pathways that sustained into old age. Theoretical and practice implications for health professionals are discussed.

%B Soc Work Health Care %V 53 %P 776-97 %8 2014 %G eng %N 8 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25255340?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1080/00981389.2014.944251 %0 Journal Article %J J Prev Interv Community %D 2012 %T Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) within a social disadvantage framework: distinguishing unique, cumulative, and moderated contributions to adult mental health. %A Nurius, Paula S %A Logan-Greene, Patricia %A Green, Sara %K Adult %K Adult Survivors of Child Abuse %K Aged %K Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System %K Child %K Child Abuse %K Crime Victims %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Female %K Humans %K Male %K Mental Health %K Middle Aged %K Poverty %K Public Policy %K Washington %X

The deleterious impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) may be confounded with frequently co-occurring social disadvantage. In this analysis we test the effects of ACE on adult mental health within a social disadvantage framework, using a population-based survey (n = 7,444; mean age = 55.2 years) from Washington State. We also examined the protective effects of socioemotional support, and the distinct and combined contribution of the measured ACE factors. Results demonstrated sustained impact of ACE on mental health many decades later, even net of social disadvantage and demographic contributors. Protective factors provided both direct and moderating influences, potentially masking the elevated effects of ACE for those with few resources. Toxicity examination of ACE items evinced differential effects of ACE experiences on mental health. These results demonstrate that interventions ameliorating the effects of ACE and bolstering protective resources such as socioemotional support may be effective toward augmenting mental health even late in life.

%B J Prev Interv Community %V 40 %P 278-90 %8 2012 %G eng %N 4 %R 10.1080/10852352.2012.707443