Adverse Childhood Experiences are associated with choice of partner, both partners' relationship and psychosocial health as reported one year after birth of a common child. A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are common and known to have consequences for individuals’ adult health, leading to a higher risk of illness. The aims of the study were to investigate the ACEs in couples, to examine the extent of assortative mating and to investigate the association between the relationship of the load of ACEs within couples and health outcomes, one year after the birth of a common child. At antenatal clinics in Sweden 818 couples were recruited and investigated one year after the birth of a common child answering a questionnaire including the exposure to ten ACE categories and several outcome variables. In total, 59% of both mothers and partners reported exposure to at least one of the ten ACE categories. Among the mothers 11% and among the partners 9% reported exposure to ≥4 ACE categories (p = 0.12). There was a correlation between the numbers of ACE categories reported by the mothers and their partners (Spearman’s ρ = 0.18, p<0.001). This association pertained to six of the ten ACE categories. In multiple logistic regression analyses, there were associations between the ACE exposure load and unfavourable outcomes among the mothers, the partners and within the couples. Unfavourable outcomes concerning health were most prominent in couples where both members reported exposures to ≥4 ACE categories (self-rated bad health (OR 13.82; CI 2.75–69.49), anxiety (OR 91.97; CI 13.38–632.07), depression (OR 17.42; CI 2.14–141.78) and perceived stress (OR 11.04; CI 2.79–43.73)). Mothers exposed to ACEs tend to have partners also exposed to ACEs. Exposure to ACEs was associated with bad health and unfavourable life conditions within the couples, especially among couples where both members reported exposure to multiple ACEs. These results should stimulate incentives to find, to support and to treat individuals and couples where both members report multiple ACEs. The consequences for the children should be further studied as well as how these families should be treated in health care and society.

Intergenerational Pathways Linking Mothers’ Adverse Childhood Experiences and Children’s Social-Emotional Problems

“…Furthermore, results showed that the ACEs of one parent were correlated with the caregiving provided by a second parent. Assortative mating processes also may contribute to the non-random selection of romantic partners who share similar backgrounds and characteristics (Andersen, 2018; Andersson et al, 2021; Font et al, 2020).…”

Depressive Symptoms in Expecting Fathers: Is Paternal Perinatal Depression a Valid Concept? A Systematic Review of Evidence

“…However, since the late 1950s, the literature on fathers’ depressive reactions during their wives’ pregnancies has not kept pace with that on women’s perinatal depression (1733 records on PubMed on 13 August 2022 vs. 11,602 results on the same database on the same day). This disparity is regretted by investigators of fathers’ perinatal depression, because its consequence is that fewer resources are available for dedicated programs directed to counteracting paternal depression [ 7 , 8 ]. The fact that there are no diagnostic criteria for paternal depression in commonly accepted diagnostic systems [ 9 ] renders this disparity a natural consequence.…”

Spousal concordance in adverse childhood experiences and the association with depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults: findings across China, the US, and Europe

“…A recent study also found that women who experienced ACEs tended to have husbands with ACEs as well 48 . Moreover, ACEs themselves can increase the risks of lower socioeconomic status, substance abuse, and cardiovascular risks, then those consequences may further influence mate choice in different ways 8,49 .…”

“…Spousal concordance in ACEs can be explained by the assortative mating theory, which proposes that people are inclined to marry partners who are similar to them in some way, such as socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and even cardiovascular risk 13,46,47 . A recent study also found that women who experienced ACEs tended to have husbands with ACEs as well 48 . Moreover, ACEs themselves can increase the risks of lower socioeconomic status, substance abuse, and cardiovascular risks, then those consequences may further influence mate choice in different ways 8,49 .…”