Early-life circumstances and late life loneliness trajectories among Finnish older adults.

BACKGROUND: Later life loneliness has become a significant public health concern worldwide. Research has focused on the prevalence, risk factors and consequences of loneliness in different age groups. This study aimed to advance the understanding of the impact of early-life circumstances on later life loneliness by examining the associations between adversities in childhood and youth and loneliness trajectories in Finnish older adults. METHODS: The data were derived from the 10-year follow-up survey study Good Aging in the Lahti Region (n = 1552, mean age 64.89 years). The baseline study was conducted in 2002 with a regionally and locally stratified random sample of older persons living in the Lahti Region located in southern Finland. The follow-up surveys were carried out in 2005, 2008 and 2012. Loneliness was measured using a single question at the three follow-ups. Childhood conditions were retrospectively assessed at baseline with questions regarding the death of parents, household affection, relocation, and fear of a family member. Latent class growth analysis with time invariant covariates was used to identify loneliness trajectories and to examine the associations between loneliness trajectories and adverse circumstances in childhood and youth. RESULTS: The results identified three distinct loneliness trajectories: low, moderate, and severe, including 36%, 50% and 14%, respectively, of the study population. The non-significant slopes of the three trajectories indicate that trajectories were stable during the seven years of follow-up. Being afraid of a family member, having a cold childhood, and death of a father or mother in childhood or youth significantly increased the odds of having a severe loneliness trajectory as compared to low loneliness trajectory. None of the early-life circumstances differentiated between severe and moderate levels of loneliness. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that some adverse early-life circumstances increase the odds of an unfavorable loneliness trajectory in later life. The results highlight the need to recognize the role of diverse life-course adversities in loneliness research and interventions. The study also underscores the importance of identifying individuals who are at risk of long-term and severe loneliness and providing them with appropriate support to decrease and/or prevent the negative health consequences of loneliness in old age.

Maternal Adverse Childhood Experience and Depression in Relation with Brain Network Development and Behaviors in Children: A Longitudinal Study.

Maternal childhood maltreatment and depression increase risks for the psychopathology of the offspring. This study employed a longitudinal dataset of mother-child dyads to investigate the developmental trajectories of brain functional networks and behaviors of children in relation with maternal childhood adverse experience and depression. Maternal childhood trauma was retrospectively assessed via childhood trauma questionnaire, whereas maternal depressive symptoms were prospectively evaluated during pregnancy and after delivery (n = 518). Child brain scans were acquired at age of 4.5, 6, and 7.5 years (n = 163) and behavioral problems were measured at 7.5 years using the Child Behavior Checklist. We found the functional connectivity of the language network with the sensorimotor, frontal, and attentional networks as a function of maternal adverse experience that interacted with sex and age. Girls exposed to mothers with depressive symptoms or childhood abuse showed the increased development of the functional connectivity of the language network with the visual networks, which was associated with social problems. Girls exposed to mothers with depressive symptoms showed the slower growth of the functional connectivity of the language network with the sensorimotor networks. Our findings, in a community sample, suggest the language network organization as neuroendophenotypes for maternal childhood trauma and depression.

Adverse childhood experiences and asthma: trajectories in a national cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Research has linked early adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with asthma development; however, existing studies have generally relied on parent report of exposure and outcome. We aimed to examine the association of early life ACEs with empirically determined trajectories of childhood asthma risk, using independent register information on both exposures and outcome. METHODS: Based on nationwide registries, we established a study cohort of 466 556 children born in Denmark (1997-2004). We obtained information on ACEs during the first 2 years of life (bereavement, parental chronic somatic and/or mental illness) and childhood asthma diagnosis or medication use from birth through age 10 years from the Danish National Patient and Prescription Registries, respectively. We identified asthma phenotypes using group-based trajectory modelling. We then used multinomial logistic regression to examine the association between early ACEs and asthma phenotypes. RESULTS: We identified four asthma phenotypes: non-asthmatic, early-onset transient, early-onset persistent and late-onset asthma. Girls with early-onset transient asthma (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.24), early-onset persistent asthma (1.27, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.48) or late-onset asthma (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.48) vs no asthma were more likely to have early life ACE exposure compared with girls without ACE exposure. Results were similar for boys who also had experienced early life ACEs with ORs of 1.16 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.25), 1.34 (95% CI 1.20 to 1.51) and 1.11 (95% CI 0.98 to 1.25), respectively. CONCLUSION: In a nationwide-population study, we identified three childhood onset asthma phenotypes and found that ACEs early in life were associated with increased odds for each of these asthma phenotypes among both girls and boys.

Childhood trauma is associated with elevated anhedonia and altered core reward circuitry in major depression patients and controls.

Childhood trauma (CT) is a well-established risk factor for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the underlying mechanism linking CT and MDD remains not fully understood. The present study tested the hypothesis that CT have effects on specific types of anhedonia in depression via reward system. To do so, we evaluated different aspects of anhedonia and resting-state functional connectivity (FC) in reward system among 66 patients with MDD (44 with moderate-to-severe and 22 with no or low CT), and 57 healthy controls (HC; 23 with moderate-to-severe and 34 with no or low CT). Results showed that MDD patients with moderate-to-severe CT suffered more severe state anhedonic depression than patients with no or low level of CT. Individuals with moderate-to-severe CT, irrespective of MDD diagnosis, had elevated physical, social and anticipatory but not consummatory trait anhedonia, and demonstrated decreased left nucleus accumbens (NAcc)-right orbital frontal cortex (OFC) and left ventral caudate-left OFC connectivity compared to those with no or low exposure. Left NAcc-right OFC connectivity mediated relationship between CT and state anhedonia in MDD. The total altered ventral striatum (VS)-OFC connectivity mediated links between CT and physical trait anhedonia in HC. These findings highlight specific types of anhedonia and the core reward system as targets of CT. Blunted hedonic responses via decreased coupling within core reward system may be involved in the mechanism of depression following CT. Implications for clinical interventions are also discussed.

The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Child Telomere Length: Examining Self-Regulation as a Behavioral Mediator.

Childhood adversity is linked to shortened telomere length (TL), but behavioral indicators of telomere attrition remain unclear. This study examined the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and child TL, and if ACEs were indirectly associated with TL through children's self-regulatory abilities (i.e., effortful control and self-control). Hypotheses were tested using national data from teachers, parents, and their children (N = 2,527; Mage  = 9.35, SD = .36 years). More ACEs were uniquely associated with short TL, and low self-control mediated the association between more ACEs and short TL. While longitudinal studies are needed to strengthen claims of causation, this study identifies a pathway from ACEs to TL that should be explored further.

Self-disgust mediates the relationship between childhood adversities and psychosis.

OBJECTIVE: Traumatic events in childhood have been implicated in the development of psychosis, but given that trauma is not in itself sufficient to cause psychosis, researchers have started to investigate other psychological constructs potentially involved in explaining this relationship. Given that self-disgust as a transdiagnostic construct plays a role in the development/maintenance of a range of mental health difficulties, the objective of this study was to investigate whether self-disgust mediates the relationship between childhood trauma and psychosis. METHOD: A cross-sectional quantitative study design was used. Seventy-eight participants (Mage  = 37.64 years, SDage  = 11.57 years; 77% women; 88% White Caucasian) who reported experiencing clinical levels of psychosis were recruited using social media. The participants completed online survey measures of childhood trauma, self-disgust, experiences of psychosis, self-esteem, and external shame. The data were analysed using correlation and mediation analyses. RESULTS: Significant indirect effects of childhood trauma on both positive (ß = .17, BC 95% CI [0.06, 0.30]) and negative symptoms (ß = .26, BC 95% CI [0.14, 0.40]) of psychosis via self-disgust were observed. These effects remained despite the inclusion of self-esteem and external shame as control variables in the mediation models. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to show a mediating role for self-disgust in the relationship between childhood trauma and later psychosis. Although the findings should be considered preliminary until strengthened by further research, they nevertheless provide corroboration of the potential utility of self-disgust as a transdiagnostic construct not only from a theoretical perspective, but also from its potential to inform formulation and interventions. PRACTITIONER POINTS: When assessing individuals with psychosis, especially those with a trauma history explore experiences and feelings related to the construct of self-disgust. Such experiences are likely to centre on feelings of repulsion towards the self/need for distance and might also manifest in the content of their psychotic experiences. Individuals with significant levels or experiences of self-disgust are likely to need specific interventions to address these; while interventions seeking to improve positive aspects of their identity might well be useful, they are unlikely to address the specific maladaptive elements of self-disgust. While self-disgust-focused interventions have not been widely researched, limited current evidence suggests cognitive restructuring and affirmation techniques might be useful.

Childhood determinants of suicidality: comparing males in military and civilian employed populations.

BACKGROUND: To better understand the associations of childhood trauma and childhood disorder with past-year suicidality (thoughts, plans or attempts), we compared male military and civilian populations aged 18-60 years old. METHODS: Data derived from the 2010 Australian Defence Force (ADF) Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study and the 2007 Australian Bureau of Statistics Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing were compared using logistic regression and Generalized Structural Equation Modelling (GSEM). RESULTS: A greater proportion of the ADF experienced suicidality than civilians. Those who experienced childhood trauma that was not interpersonal in nature were not at increased odds of suicidality, in either population. A higher proportion of the ADF experienced three or more types of trauma in childhood and first experienced three or more types of trauma in adulthood. Both were associated with suicidality in the ADF and civilians. Childhood anxiety had a strong and independent association with suicidality in the ADF (controlling for demographics and childhood trauma, adult trauma and adult onset disorder). Childhood anxiety fully mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and suicidality in the ADF, but not in civilians. CONCLUSIONS: These data highlight the need to take a whole life approach to understanding suicidality, and the importance of categorizing the nature of childhood trauma exposure. Importantly, childhood anxiety was not only associated with suicidality, it fully mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and suicidality in the more trauma exposed (military) population only. These findings have the potential to inform the development of strategies for suicide prevention.

Understanding associations of early-life adversities with mid-life inflammatory profiles: Evidence from the UK and USA.

OBJECTIVES: In two cohorts, we aimed to establish associations between early-life adversities and adult inflammation, and whether adult (a) adiposity or (b) socioeconomic disadvantage are key intermediaries. METHODS: In both cohorts (N = 7661, 1958 British birth cohort; N = 1255, MIDUS), information was used on adult inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and (MIDUS only) interleukin-6 (IL-6)), adiposity and socioeconomic disadvantage, and early-life adversities (neglect, emotional neglect, physical, psychological, sexual abuse and childhood disadvantage). RESULTS: Early-life adversities varied from 1.6% (sexual abuse, 1958 cohort) to 14.3% (socioeconomic disadvantage, MIDUS). Across the two cohorts, associations were consistent for physical abuse, e.g. 16.3%(3.01,29.7) and 17.0%(-16.4,50.3) higher CRP in the 1958 cohort and MIDUS respectively. Associations attenuated after accounting for adult adiposity, e.g. physical abuse (1958 cohort) and sexual abuse (MIDUS, non-white participants) associations were abolished. Some associations attenuated after adjustment for adult socioeconomic disadvantage; e.g. 1958 cohort neglect-CRP associations reduced from 23.2%(13.7,32.6) to 17.7%(8.18,27.2). Across the cohorts, no associations were found for psychological abuse or emotional neglect; associations for childhood socioeconomic disadvantage were inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS: Specific early-life adversities are associated with adult inflammation; adiposity is a likely intermediary factor. Weight reduction and obesity prevention may offset pro-inflammatory related adult disease among those who experienced early-life adversities.

Impact of childhood trauma on sensory gating in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Childhood trauma (CT) has been found to contribute to the onset of schizophrenia and auditory sensory gating deficit is a leading endophenotype for schizophrenia. However, the association between the CT and sensory gating in first-episode schizophrenia remains elusive. METHODS: Fifty-six patients and 49 age and sex-matched healthy controls were assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF) for CT and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) for symptoms severity. Sensory gating was tested using the modified paradigm, perceived spatial separation-induced prepulse inhibition (PSS-PPI), and the perceived spatial co-location PPI (PSC-PPI or classical PPI). RESULTS: Comparing with healthy controls, the patients had significantly higher score on sexual abuse (t = 2.729, p < 0.05), lower PSS- PPI, % (ISI = 120 ms and ISI = 60 ms) (t = - 3.089, - 4.196, p < 0.05). Univariate analysis revealed the absence of a significant correlation among CT, PPI paradigms and symptoms. However, multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated the CTQ-SF total was negatively associated with PSS PPI (ISI = 120 ms) (p = 0.018). CONCLUSION: The current study illustrates that the impact of CT on sensory gating in patients with first-episode schizophrenia, and thus we conclude that CT may be a risk factor to the occurrence of schizophrenia through its impact on sensory gating.

The divergent impact of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met genetic polymorphisms on executive function in adolescents with discrete patterns of childhood adversity.

PURPOSE: Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met functional polymorphisms play a crucial role in the development of executive function (EF), but their effect may be moderated by environmental factors such as childhood adversity. The present study aimed at testing the divergent impact of the COMT Val158Met genotype on EF in non-clinical adolescents with discrete patterns of childhood adversity. METHODS: A total of 341 participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the self-reported version of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, and self-administered questionnaires on familial function. The participants' COMT Val158Met genotype was determined. Associations among the variables were explored using latent class analysis and general linear models. RESULTS: We found that Val/Val homozygotes showed significantly worse performance on behavioral shift, relative to Met allele carriers (F=5.921, p=0.015, Partial η2=0.018). Moreover, three typical patterns of childhood adversity, namely, low childhood adversity (23.5%), childhood neglect (59.8%), and high childhood adversity (16.7%), were found. Both childhood neglect and high childhood adversity had a negative impact on each aspect of EF and on global EF performance. Importantly, these results provided evidence for significant interaction effects, as adolescents with the Val/Val genotype showed inferior behavioral shift performance than Met carriers (F=6.647, p=0.010, Partial η2=0.020) in the presence of high childhood adversity. Furthermore, there were no differences between the genotypes for childhood neglect and low childhood adversity. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this is the first study to show that an interaction between the COMT genotype and childhood adversity affects EF in non-clinical adolescents. These results suggest that the COMT genotype may operate as a susceptibility gene vulnerable to an adverse environment.

Latent profiles of early trauma & Type D personality: sex differences in cardiovascular risk markers.

BACKGROUND: Both adverse early life-events and distressed personality are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. As there is an important link between these psychological factors, we investigated how these might cluster in sex-specific psychological profiles. We further examined the association of these profiles with cardiovascular risk markers. METHOD: 446 women (mean age = 49.8 ±â€¯17.9 years) and 431 men (mean age = 49.4 ±â€¯17.5 years) from the Dutch general population completed questionnaires on demographics, adverse early life-events (ETI), Type D personality (DS14), anxiety (GAD-7) and depressive (PHQ-9) symptoms, and traditional cardiovascular risk markers. RESULTS: A step-3 latent profile analysis identified three profiles in women (Reference, Type D & trauma, and Type D/no trauma) and four in men (Reference, Type D & trauma, Type D/no trauma, and Physical abuse). In women, the Type D/no trauma was associated with highest levels of emotional symptoms (OR = 2.47; 95% CI: 2.11-2.89), lipid abnormalities (OR = 3.69; 95% CI: 1.47-9.27), and increased levels of alcohol use (OR = 3.63; 95% CI: 1.42-9.30). The Type D & trauma profile was associated with increased levels of emotional symptoms (OR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.70-2.42), highest levels of smoking (OR = 3.30; 95% CI: 1.21-8.97) and alcohol use (OR = 7.63; 95% CI: 2.86-20.33). Women in both profiles were older as compared to the Reference group (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05). In men, the Type D & trauma profile was associated with increased levels of emotional symptoms (OR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.03-1.20). There were no significant differences between the profiles in lifestyle factors and cardiometabolic factors. CONCLUSIONS: In women, the Type D/no trauma profile and the Type D & trauma profile were associated with a specific combination of cardiovascular risk markers. In men, the Type D & trauma profile was associated with an increased level of emotional symptoms.

Does dissociation mediate the relationship between childhood trauma and hallucinations, delusions in first episode psychosis?

BACKGROUND: Childhood trauma has been linked to the presence of delusions and hallucinations in psychosis, although the mechanisms underlying this relationship require elucidation. Dissociation, characterized by disruptions to the integrative functioning of several core mental domains, has emerged as a potential mechanism. There is a paucity of research using a clinician-rated measure of dissociation to test the indirect effect of dissociation on the relationship between childhood trauma and psychotic symptoms. This study aimed to investigate whether dissociation mediated both the relationships between childhood trauma and hallucinations, and childhood trauma and delusions utilizing a clinician-administered measure of dissociation, namely the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Dissociative Disorders - Revised (SCID-D-R). METHOD: Sixty-six first-episode psychosis (FEP) participants completed a research interview and questionnaires. Information about experiences of childhood trauma, psychosis, dissociation, general psychopathology and demographics were collected. RESULTS: When using the SCID-D-R, childhood trauma positively correlated with dissociation. Further, dissociation mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and delusions. Contrary to previous findings, we found no relationship between dissociation and hallucinations and no mediating effect of dissociation on the association between childhood trauma and hallucinations. The results of the SCID-D-R differed significantly from those of the Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (DES-II) which were consistent with previous research. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are the first to use a clinician-rated measure to test the mediating effect of dissociation on the relationship between childhood trauma and positive symptoms (i.e., hallucinations and delusions). Given the discrepancies in results between the SCID-D-R and DES-II, how dissociation is measured in future research is an important consideration. The results add to a body of work that increasingly recognizes the importance of dissociative symptoms on the relationship between childhood trauma and psychosis. The results suggest that dissociative symptoms should be part of routine assessment in those with a history of trauma and present to FEP services.

Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences in Children: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with increased risk of poor mental health outcomes. Although there is interest in screening for ACEs for early identification and intervention, it is not known whether screening improves outcomes for children. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review whether screening for ACEs in children leads to an increase in (1) identification of ACEs, (2) referrals to services, (3) increased uptake of services, and (4) improved mental health outcomes for children and parents. DATA SOURCES: Ovid Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Center for Clinical and Translational Research electronic databases were searched between 2009 and 2021. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included if researchers screened for current ACEs in children aged 0 to 12 years and they had a control comparison. DATA EXTRACTION: Information was extracted, including study characteristics, sample demographics, screening tool characteristics, referral rates to services, uptake rates, and mental health outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 5816 articles were screened, with 4 articles meeting inclusion criteria. Screening for ACEs increases identification of adversity and may increase referrals to services. There are limited data about whether this leads to an increase in referral uptake by families. There are no reported data addressing mental health outcomes. LIMITATIONS: There are few published control trials of moderate quality. CONCLUSIONS: There is limited evidence that screening for ACEs improves identification of childhood adversity and may improve referrals. If we are to realize the hypothesized benefits of ACEs screening on child and parent mental health, it is essential to understand the barriers for families taking up referrals.

Differences in the prevalence of childhood adversity by geography in the 2017-18 National Survey of Children's Health.

BACKGROUND: Previous efforts to examine differences in adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) exposure by geography have yielded mixed results, and have not distinguished between urban, suburban, and rural areas. Additionally, few studies to date have considered the potentially moderating role of geography on the relationship between ACEs and health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in exposure to ACEs by geography, and determine whether geography moderates the relationship between ACE exposure and health outcomes (overall health, asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and special health care needs). PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The cross-sectional 2017-18 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). METHODS: Distributions of individual and cumulative ACEs by geography (urban, suburban, rural) were compared using chi-squared tests. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between geography and exposure to 4 + ACEs, and to explore whether the relationship between ACEs and health outcomes varied by geography, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. RESULTS: Adjusting for covariates, rural residency was associated with 1.29 times increased odds of exposure to 4 + ACEs (95 % CI: 1.00, 1.66) compared to suburban residency. Statistically significant evidence for an interaction between geography and ACE exposure on overall health was not observed, but urban status was observed to increase the association between ACEs and asthma. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis demonstrates a higher ACE burden in rural compared to suburban children. These findings underscore the importance of ACE screening and suggest investment of healthcare resources in the historically underserved rural population.

Functional imaging correlates of childhood trauma: A qualitative review of past research and emerging trends.

Childhood trauma exposure is common and is associated with poor clinical outcomes in adolescence along with mental health and sociodemographic challenges in adulthood. While many strategies exist to investigate the biological imprint of childhood trauma exposure, functional neuroimaging is a robust and growing technology for non-invasive studies of brain activity following traumatic experience and the relationship of childhood trauma exposure with psychopathology, cognition, and behavior. In this review, we discuss three popular approaches for discerning functional neural correlates to early life trauma, including regional activation, bivariate functional connectivity, and network-based connectivity. The breadth of research in each method is discussed, followed by important limitations and considerations for future research. We close by considering emerging trends in functional neuroimaging research of childhood trauma, including the use of complex decision-making tasks to mimic clinically-relevant behaviors, data-driven techniques such as multivariate pattern analysis and whole-brain network topology, and the applications of real-time neurofeedback for treatment of trauma-related mental disorders. We aim for this review to provide a framework for understanding the relationship between atypical neural functioning and adverse outcomes following childhood trauma exposure, with a focus on improving consistency in research methods and translatability of research findings for clinical settings.

Does Rural Living in Early Life Increase the Risk for Reduced Cognitive Functioning in Later Life?

BACKGROUND: There is a robust consensus, most recently articulated in the 2020 Lancet Commission, that the roots of dementia can be traced to early life, and that the path to prevention may start there as well. Indeed, a growing body of research demonstrates that early life disadvantage may influence the risk for later life dementia and cognitive decline. A still understudied risk, however, is early life rural residence, a plausible pathway given related economic and educational disadvantages, as well as associations between later life rural living and lower levels of cognitive functioning. OBJECTIVE: We aim to examine whether living in rural environments during early life has long term implications for cognitive health in later life. METHODS: We employed the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, which tracked 1 in every 3 high school graduates from the class of 1957, from infancy to ∼age 72. The data include a rich array of prospectively collected early life data, unique among existing studies, as well as later life measures of cognitive functioning. RESULTS: We found a robust relationship between early life rural residence, especially living on a farm, and long-term risk for reduced cognitive performance on recall and fluency tasks. Controls for adolescent cognitive functioning, APOEɛ2 and APOEɛ4, as well as childhood and adult factors, ranging from early life socioeconomic conditions to later life health and rural and farm residency, did not alter the findings. CONCLUSION: Rural living in early life is an independent risk for lower levels of cognitive functioning in later life.

Consistent evidence of indirect effects of impulsive delay discounting and negative urgency between childhood adversity and adult substance use in two samples.

RATIONALE: Exposure to adverse life experiences (ACEs) is robustly associated with problematic alcohol and other drug use. In addition, both ACEs and substance use have been independently associated with impulsivity. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether impulsivity is implicated in the link between ACE and adult substance use in two samples. METHODS: The primary sample was a cohort of community adults (N = 1431) who completed a one-time in-person assessment. A second sample was crowdsourced using Amazon Mechanical Turk (N = 3021). All participants were assessed for ACEs using the Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire and for current alcohol and other drug use. Given its multidimensional nature, impulsivity was assessed using the UPPS-P measure of impulsive personality traits, Go/NoGo (GNG) task (in-person community adult sample only), and delay discounting (Monetary Choice Questionnaire [MCQ] in the community adults and Effective Delay-50 [ED50] in the crowdsourced sample. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the hypothesized indirect effects for the measures of impulsivity between ACEs and substance use. RESULTS: In the community adults, significant indirect effects were observed from ACEs to substance use via UPPS-Negative Urgency (ß = 0.07, SE = 0.02, 95% CI [0.04, 0.10]), and the MCQ (ß = 0.02 SE = .01, 95% CI [0.01, 0.03]). In the crowdsourced sample, significant indirect effects were observed from ACEs to substance use via UPPS-Negative Urgency (ß = 0.05, SE = .01, 95% CI [0.04, 0.07]), UPPS-Premeditation (ß = 0.04, SE = .01, 95% CI [0.02, 0.05), and the ED50 (ß = 0.02, SE = .01; 95% CI [0.01, 0.03]). CONCLUSION: These findings provide consistent evidence that decrements in regulation of negative emotions and overvaluation of immediate rewards indirectly link ACE and substance use. These robust cross-sectional findings support the need for elucidating the underlying neural substrates implicated and for longitudinal evaluations.

Impact of Life Events on Short-Term Change in BMI in Early and Middle Childhood.

OBJECTIVE: The accumulation of adverse events in childhood is linked to obesity, although the short-term (1 to 2 years) dynamics of weight change during life events has not been investigated. METHODS: In the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, mothers reported life events in the past year when their children were 54 months, 9 years, and 11 years old. Children's height and weight were measured, and BMI-for-age z scores were calculated at 36 and 54 months and at 7, 9, 10, and 11 years. The estimated 1- and 2-year change in BMI z score of being in the highest quartile of negative and total life events was modeled using linear regression accounting for repeated measures. RESULTS: Analyses included 1,074 children. The highest quartile of negative life events was not statistically associated with BMI z score change at 2 years compared with those below the highest quartile (estimate: 0.069, 95% CI: -0.006, 0.144). Similarly, the highest quartile of total events was not related to BMI z score change (estimate: 0.029, 95% CI: -0.054, 0.114). The developmental period of the child did not moderate the association. CONCLUSIONS: No significant change in BMI z score was observed in 1 to 2 years for children experiencing many life events.

Differing trajectories of adversity over the life course: Implications for adult health and well-being.

BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACE), can give rise to long-term mental and physical health consequences as well as additional stressors later in the life course. This study aims to examine differing profiles of trajectories of adversity over the life course and investigate their association with socioeconomic and health outcomes. METHODS: We used population representative data from the Washington State 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System BRFSS survey n = 7953. Six ACE items were paired with six Adverse Adulthood Experience AAE items in respondents' adulthood that parallel the ACE e.g. physical abuse in childhood and physical victimization in adulthood. We applied latent class analysis to identify distinct trajectories of adversity; then tested for differences across trajectories in terms of demographic, socioeconomic, and health measures. RESULTS: Six latent classes were identified: individuals with high AAE: (1. Consistently High, 2. Substance Abuse and Incarceration, 3. Adult Interpersonal Victimization) and individuals with low AAE (4. Repeat Sexual Victimization, 5. High to Low, and 6. Consistently Low). The Consistently High group had the highest prevalence of ACE and AAE and fared poorly across wide ranging outcomes. Other groups displayed specific patterns of ACE and AAE exposures (including salient subgroups such as those with incarceration exposure) as well as differences in demographic characteristics, illustrating disparities. CONCLUSIONS: Subgroup analyses such as this are complementary to population generalized findings. Understanding differences in life course patterns of adversity can shed light on interventions in earlier life and better target service provision to promote health and well-being.