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01-12-2021 | Research article

Adverse childhood experiences and child mental health: an electronic birth cohort study

Authors: Emily Lowthian, Rebecca Anthony, Annette Evans, Rhian Daniel, Sara Long, Amrita Bandyopadhyay, Ann John, Mark A. Bellis, Shantini Paranjothy

Published in: BMC Medicine | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are negatively associated with a range of child health outcomes. In this study, we explored associations between five individual ACEs and child mental health diagnoses or symptoms. ACEs included living with someone who had an alcohol-related problem, common mental health disorder or serious mental illness, or experienced victimisation or death of a household member.

Methods

We analysed data from a population-level electronic cohort of children in Wales, UK, (N = 191,035) between the years of 1998 and 2012. We used Cox regression with discrete time-varying exposure variables to model time to child mental health diagnosis during the first 15 years of life. Child mental health diagnoses include five categories: (i) externalising symptoms (anti-social behaviour), (ii) internalising symptoms (stress, anxiety, depression), (iii) developmental delay (e.g. learning disability), (iv) other (e.g. eating disorder, personality disorders), and (v) any mental health diagnosis, which was created by combining externalising symptoms, internalising symptoms and other. Our analyses were adjusted for social deprivation and perinatal risk factors.

Results

There were strong univariable associations between the five individual ACEs, sociodemographic and perinatal factors (e.g. gestational weight at birth) and an increased risk of child mental health diagnoses. After adjusting for sociodemographic and perinatal aspects, there was a remaining conditional increased risk of any child mental health diagnosis, associated with victimisation (conditional hazard ratio (cHR) 1.90, CI 95% 1.34–2.69), and living with an adult with a common mental health diagnosis (cHR 1.63, CI 95% 1.52–1.75). Coefficients of product terms between ACEs and deprivation were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

The increased risk of child mental health diagnosis associated with victimisation, or exposure to common mental health diagnoses, and alcohol problems in the household supports the need for policy measures and intervention strategies for children and their families.

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Title: Adverse childhood experiences and child mental health: an electronic birth cohort study
Authors: Emily Lowthian
Rebecca Anthony
Annette Evans
Rhian Daniel
Sara Long
Amrita Bandyopadhyay
Ann John
Mark A. Bellis
Shantini Paranjothy
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Medicine / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1741-7015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-021-02045-x

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Adverse childhood experiences and child mental health: an electronic birth cohort study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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