Adverse childhood experiences and deleterious outcomes in adulthood: A consideration of the simultaneous role of genetic and environmental influences in two independent samples from the United States

Abstract

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a potent risk factor. Despite these findings, studies have also recognized the importance of considering additional sources of genetic and environmental influence that cluster within families. Objective: To properly control for latent sources of genetic and within-family environmental influences and isolate the association between ACEs and the following outcomes in adulthood: physical health, depressive symptoms, educational attainment, income attainment, alcohol problems, and antisocial behavior. Participants and Setting: Two independent samples of twins and siblings from the United States: the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) study (N = 862) and the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health; N = 3,112). Methods: Sibling comparison models, which control for latent sources of genetic and within-family environmental influences, were estimated to examine whether differential exposure to ACEs was associated with the examined outcomes. Results: Families that experienced more adversity also experienced more deleterious outcomes. However, siblings that experienced more adversity were no more likely to experience deleterious outcomes than their co-siblings. However, greater exposure to ACEs was associated with increases in depressive symptoms (Add Health). Additional models revealed that the similarity between siblings from the same family stemmed from latent sources of within-family environmental influences not captured by traditional ACEs measures. Conclusions: Considering genetic influences and additional latent sources of within-family influences is crucial in isolating the effects of ACEs. Currently employed ACEs measures may not adequately capture the full range of impactful sources of family-level environmental influence.

Characteristic and psychosocial consequences of sexually abused children referred to a tertiary care facility in Oman: Sentinel study

“…Literature is rife with the view that sexual abuse triggers a myriad of intransigent and debilitating physical, psychological or social impairment (Schwartz et al, 2019). While this study suggests that some of the attendees at CAMHS are likely to have deteriorated school performance, display culturally devalued sexual behavior, be marked with irritability, aggression, self-harm and risky behavior and nocturnal enuresis, the majority were marked with having issues with sleep-wake cycles and clinically significant depressive symptoms.…”

Is Crime Bad for Your Health? The Link Between Delinquent Offending and Cardiometabolic Risk

“…It is possible that persistent delinquent behavior is but one symptom of a larger set of behaviors and traits that contribute to both behavior problems and adverse health outcomes. This possibility resembles the concentration of adversity that has been previously found to characterize victimization experiences, a phenomenon referred to as the adversity package (Jirapramukpitak et al, 2011;Rossman, 2001;Schwartz et al, 2019). We attempted to address this possibility by controlling for a comprehensive set of covariates (e.g., lifestyle factors, impulse control, health-related behaviors, victimization), but this leaves out the possibility that unmeasured aspects of the "adversity package" bias our results.…”

Internalising and Externalising in Parents and Offspring: The Impact of Sex and Early Life Adversity

“…A review aimed at demonstrating psychopathic subtypes differ in terms of ACEs for example, reported that adult women with violent behaviours were found to have experienced more ACEs than non-offending women (Moreira et al, 2020). Findings from a twin study reviewed, conducted by Schwartz et al, (2019), demonstrate that a higher number of ACEs was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of antisocial behaviour (Moreira et al, 2020). Additionally, in comparison to their co-twins, twins exposed to a higher level of ACEs had a higher likelihood of engaging in antisocial behaviours.…”

“…Though the strength of this relationship is attenuated in studies where family history of alcoholism is controlled for, results continue to indicate a persistent relationship between ELA and adult risk of alcohol use disorders (Keyes et al, 2011;Nelson et al, 2002;Pilowsky et al, 2009). One twin study found that increased exposure to ACEs was positively associated with a higher prevalence of alcohol use problems (Schwartz et al, 2019).…”