Measuring early life adversity: A dimensional approach

Abstract

Exposure to adversity in childhood is associated with elevations in numerous physical and mental health outcomes across the life course. The biological embedding of early experience during periods of developmental plasticity is one pathway that contributes to these associations. Dimensional models specify mechanistic pathways linking different dimensions of adversity to health and well-being outcomes later in life. While findings from existing studies testing these dimensions have provided promising preliminary support for these models, less agreement exists about how to measure the experiences that comprise each dimension. Here, we review existing approaches to measuring two dimensions of adversity: threat and deprivation. We recommend specific measures for measuring these constructs and, when possible, document when the same measure can be used by different reporters and across the lifespan to maximize the utility with which these recommendations can be applied. Through this approach, we hope to stimulate progress in understanding how particular dimensions of early environmental experience contribute to lifelong health.

Dimensions of childhood adversity differentially affect biological aging in major depression

“…Witnessing IPV has been conceptualized as a threatening experience and this finding further supports the idea that Household Dysfunction reflects deprivation based exposures. Unfortunately, we were unable to create Threat and Deprivation scores due to methodological differences in how adversity was measured [ 35 , 42 , 69 , 70 ].…”

Rodent models of early adversity: Impacts on developing social behavior circuitry and clinical implications

“…Therefore, deconstructed laboratory paradigms that permit researchers to isolate specific features of adversity are a useful complement to this approach and will be discussed below (summarized in Figure 1 ). These types of analyses have been increasingly applied in the developmental psychopathology field to determine which dimensions of early adversity drive maladaptive outcomes (e.g., Berman et al, 2022 ; Ellis et al, 2022 ; Nikolaidis et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Would these same outcomes occur if painful rough handling was mimicked with a more controlled aversive stimulus, such as mild shocks? (Berman et al, 2022;Ellis et al, 2022;Nikolaidis et al, 2022). To begin addressing some of these questions, we recently presented a Deconstructed Adversity Procedure which permits researchers to isolate specific components of adversity to test their role in producing neurobehavioral outcomes.…”

Adversity and child body mass index in Fragile Families over 15 years: Do type and timing matter?

“…Such impacts can hinder social, cognitive, and emotional functioning and contribute to health risk behaviors, such as dysregulated sleeping or eating patterns, which can ultimately increase BMI and obesity risk ( Conger et al, 2002 ; Masarik & Conger, 2017 ; McCubbin & Patterson, 1983 ; Schuler et al, 2021 ; Shonkoff et al, 2012 ; Sominsky & Spencer, 2014 ). Recent theories on the neurological mechanisms of adversity and child mental health conceptualize adversity with two primary dimensions: threat and deprivation ( Berman et al, 2022 ; McLaughlin et al, 2014 , 2021 ; Miller et al, 2018 ). The threat dimension is consistent with traditional definitions of adversity and includes unexpected events that harm, victimize (i.e., physical abuse, crime victim) or threaten children (i.e., neglect, witnessing domestic violence).…”

“…Material deprivation refers to the lack of necessary basic resources for survival and promoting a healthful environment, such as food, housing, or income insecurity ( Berman et al, 2022 ; Schuler, 2019 ; Schuler et al, 2021 ). Like other forms of adversity, economic adversity can increase stress on the family system, impairing protective health behaviors that minimize risks on weight status ( Conger et al, 2002 ).…”