IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i22p8507-d446240.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Direct and Indirect Influences of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Physical Health: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Listed:
  • Yolanda Martín-Higarza

    (Institute of Legal Medicine, Government of the Principality of Asturias, 33001 Asturias, Spain)

  • Yolanda Fontanil

    (Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain)

  • María Dolores Méndez

    (Mental Health Services of the Principality of Asturias, 33201 Asturias, Spain)

  • Esteban Ezama

    (Mental Health Services of the Principality of Asturias, 33201 Asturias, Spain)

Abstract

A growing and significant body of research has documented the close relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and health outcomes in adults. Less is known about the complex pathways through which ACEs exert their influence. This article examines the direct relationship between the quality of perceived physical health and childhood adversities. The association between the adversities and the physical health with other psychological and social variables is also analyzed. Data were collected from a sample of 170 subjects, using tools to assess adverse childhood experiences, physical health-related quality of life, socioeconomic vulnerability, emotion regulation, coping strategies, attachment, and social support. Results showed a high frequency of ACEs among the adult population, and the correlation with poor physical health was highly significant. Regression equations to predict physical health also revealed the following as significant variables: wishful thinking, social withdrawal, and cognitive restructuring as coping styles; reappraisal to achieve emotion regulation; fear of rejection or abandonment, and desire for closeness in relation to attachment figures; hardship; and poor financial support. The relationship between the different forms of ACE and social vulnerability identifies the important indirect contribution of childhood adversity to health and socioeconomic conditions in adulthood.

Suggested Citation

  • Yolanda Martín-Higarza & Yolanda Fontanil & María Dolores Méndez & Esteban Ezama, 2020. "The Direct and Indirect Influences of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Physical Health: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:22:p:8507-:d:446240
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/22/8507/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/22/8507/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rosana E Norman & Munkhtsetseg Byambaa & Rumna De & Alexander Butchart & James Scott & Theo Vos, 2012. "The Long-Term Health Consequences of Child Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, and Neglect: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(11), pages 1-31, November.
    2. Corso, P.S. & Edwards, V.J. & Fang, X. & Mercy, J.A., 2008. "Health-related quality of life among adults who experienced maltreatment during childhood," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(6), pages 1094-1100.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Sofie A. Jacobsen & Bo M. Bibby & Lisbeth Frostholm & Marie W. Petersen & Eva Ørnbøl & Signe U. Schovsbo & Thomas M. Dantoft & Tina B. W. Carstensen, 2022. "Development and Validation of the Weighted Index for Childhood Adverse Conditions (WICAC)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-21, October.
    2. María Dolores Méndez-Méndez & Yolanda Fontanil & Yolanda Martín-Higarza & Natalia Fernández-Álvarez & Esteban Ezama, 2021. "Configurations of Adult Attachment, Indicators of Mental Health and Adverse Childhood Experiences in Women: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-18, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sánchez-Sandoval, Yolanda & Aragón, Claudia & Verdugo, Laura, 2022. "Future expectations of adolescents in Residential Care: The role of self-perceptions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    2. Anke Hoeffler, 2017. "Violence Against Children: A Critical Issue for Development," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 29(5), pages 945-963, November.
    3. Xuening Chang & Xueyan Jiang & Tamara Mkandarwire & Min Shen, 2019. "Associations between adverse childhood experiences and health outcomes in adults aged 18–59 years," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(2), pages 1-11, February.
    4. Chen, Xiaoxiao & Shao, Jingjin & Pu, Xin & Wang, Zhi, 2023. "Childhood maltreatment and adolescents’ peer victimization: The effect of security, school connectedness and gender," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    5. Carolien Christ & Marleen M de Waal & Jack J M Dekker & Iris van Kuijk & Digna J F van Schaik & Martijn J Kikkert & Anna E Goudriaan & Aartjan T F Beekman & Terri L Messman-Moore, 2019. "Linking childhood emotional abuse and depressive symptoms: The role of emotion dysregulation and interpersonal problems," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(2), pages 1-18, February.
    6. Amy van Grieken & Esther M.B. Horrevorts & Cathelijne L. Mieloo & Rienke Bannink & Merian B.R. Bouwmeester-Landweer & Esther Hafkamp-de Groen & Suzanne Broeren & Hein Raat, 2019. "A Controlled Trial in Community Pediatrics to Empower Parents Who Are at Risk for Parenting Stress: The Supportive Parenting Intervention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-14, November.
    7. Burnson, Cynthia & Covington, Sarah & Arvizo, Bertha & Qiao, Jun & Harris, Elizabeth, 2021. "The impact of parents anonymous on child safety and permanency," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    8. Janaína C. N. Carvalho & Júlia C. Donat & Alice E. Brunnet & Thiago G. Silva & Gustavo R. Silva & Christian H. Kristensen, 2016. "Cognitive, Neurobiological and Psychopathological Alterations Associated with Child Maltreatment: A Review of Systematic Reviews," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 9(2), pages 389-406, June.
    9. Wolf, Jennifer Price & Freisthler, Bridget & McCarthy, Karla Shockley, 2021. "Parenting in poor health: Examining associations between parental health, prescription drug use, and child maltreatment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    10. Hanna Alastalo & Mikaela B von Bonsdorff & Katri Räikkönen & Anu-Katriina Pesonen & Clive Osmond & David J P Barker & Kati Heinonen & Eero Kajantie & Johan G Eriksson, 2013. "Early Life Stress and Physical and Psychosocial Functioning in Late Adulthood," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(7), pages 1-8, July.
    11. Rachel Langevin & Audrey Kern & Tonino Esposito & Sonia Hélie, 2023. "Homotypical and Heterotypical Intergenerational Continuity of Child Maltreatment: Evidence from a Cohort of Families Involved with Child Protection Services," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, February.
    12. Ran Wu & Hong Zhu & Meng-Yang Wu & Guang-Hai Wang & Chun-Lei Jiang, 2022. "Childhood Trauma and Suicide: The Mediating Effect of Stress and Sleep," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-11, July.
    13. Mariëlle E. Abrahamse & Vionna M. W. Tsang & Ramón J. L. Lindauer, 2021. "Home-Based Parent–Child Interaction Therapy to Prevent Child Maltreatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-15, August.
    14. Pellowski, Jennifer A. & Barnett, Whitney & Kuo, Caroline C. & Koen, Nastassja & Zar, Heather J. & Stein, Dan J., 2017. "Investigating tangible and mental resources as predictors of perceived household food insecurity during pregnancy among women in a South African birth cohort study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 76-84.
    15. Emma Ashworth & Ian Jarman & Philippa McCabe & Molly McCarthy & Serena Provazza & Vivienne Crosbie & Zara Quigg & Pooja Saini, 2023. "Suicidal Crisis among Children and Young People: Associations with Adverse Childhood Experiences and Socio-Demographic Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-13, January.
    16. Ma, Julie & Han, Yoonsun, 2023. "Heterogeneous effects of spanking on child protective services involvement in early childhood: A propensity score stratification analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    17. Kate Guastaferro & Stacey L. Shipe, 2023. "Child Maltreatment Types by Age: Implications for Prevention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(1), pages 1-9, December.
    18. Lauren Rumble & Ali Aulia Ramly & Mu’man Nuryana & Michael P. Dunne, 2018. "The Importance of Contextual Factors in Carrying Out Childhood Violence Surveys: a Case Study from Indonesia," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 11(2), pages 405-421, April.
    19. Anilena Mejia & Divna Haslam & Matthew R. Sanders & Nicole Penman, 2017. "Protecting Children in Low- and Middle-Income Countries from Abuse and Neglect: Critical Challenges for Successful Implementation of Parenting Programmes," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 29(5), pages 1038-1052, November.
    20. Gabriella Conti & Elena Pizzo & Stephen Morris & Mariya Melnychuk, 2021. "The economic costs of child maltreatment in UK," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(12), pages 3087-3105, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:22:p:8507-:d:446240. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.