Adverse Childhood Experiences: Predicting Cyclical Patterns Between Childhood Experiences and Adverse Behaviors in Adulthood

Abstract

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are ten specific incidences occurring in childhood known to have deleterious impacts on an individual’s life (Felitti et al., 1998). The more ACEs (i.e. abuse, neglect, household dysfunction) the worse the outcomes in several domains across the lifespan—chronic health conditions, mental health disorders, social problems, and high-risk behaviors. The aim of this study was to predict a cycling pattern of specific behaviors from childhood experiences to adult behaviors by collecting self-report survey data. Participants (N =212) reported ACEs before age 18 and five specific adverse behaviors endorsed after age 18 congruent with the ACE measure evaluating household dysfunction. Participants endorsing divorce, alcoholism or drug use, mental illness, or history of incarceration or domestic violence reflected a cyclic pattern of adverse behaviors. Cycling behaviors were summed to total a Cycling Score for participants quantifying the number of behaviors endorsed in adulthood. A linear regression showed a significant positive effect in the prediction of adverse adult behaviors endorsed by an individual who has ACEs, F(1, 210) = 33.01, p < .001. Predicting a cycle of ACE in an individual is a pivotal piece of research for early intervention, appropriating treatment, and disrupting the cycle of ACE to the next generation.