The relationship between adverse childhood experiences, health and life satisfaction in adults with care experience: The mediating role of attachment

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with a plethora of negative outcomes. Research has also found that adults who were separated from parental care and lived in alternative care settings during childhood have high levels of ACEs and are more likely to have poor outcomes. A growing body of research has supported the importance of attachment as a mechanism underlying the relationship between ACEs and adult wellbeing. However, little work has examined the role that attachment may play in the outcomes of adults who resided in residential and foster care during childhood. The current study examined the role of attachment avoidance and anxiety in the associations between ACEs and mental health, physical health, and life satisfaction in a sample of 529 adults with alternative care experience from 11 nations. Attachment avoidance partially mediated the relationship between ACEs and life satisfaction, mental health, and physical health. Attachment anxiety partially mediated the relationship between ACEs and life satisfaction and mental health, but not physical health. Taken together, the present study suggests that both attachment anxiety and avoidance play important, but unique, roles in understanding the relationship between ACEs and health and wellbeing for adults with care experience.Implications and limitations are discussed.

Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) and Subsequent Adult Psychopathologies Through the Lens of Attachment Theory: A Position Paper

“…Establishing evidence reveals a significant relationship between insecure attachment style and mental health problems. A recent study with 529 adults with ACEs showed that participants who scored high in anxious and avoidant attachment were more likely to show mental health problems (Howard, Gwenzi, Taylor, & Wilke, 2023). A longitudinal study with 154 women with history of ACEs revealed that the insecure attachment predicted the major depression and anxiety disorders (Bifulco et al, 2006).…”

The Relationship between Sense of Belonging and Well-Being Outcomes in Emerging Adults with Care Experience

“…Young adults who experienced separation from parental care during childhood are more likely to experience negative outcomes in adulthood including a higher risk of self-harm [ 17 ], violent criminal behavior [ 18 ], and homelessness [ 19 ]. Previous studies have also shown evidence of poor mental health, lower life satisfaction, insecure attachment, and less resilience among young adults with care experience due to their limited social connections [ 12 , 20 , 21 ]. Specifically, adults with care experience have been documented to experience challenges during emerging adulthood due to strained relationships with their biological families [ 22 ], poor social networks [ 16 ], and lack of social capital and resources [ 10 , 23 ].…”