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Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 5/2017

01-10-2017 | Brief Report

Resilience Resources Moderate the Association of Adverse Childhood Experiences with Adulthood Inflammation

Authors: Jean-Philippe Gouin, PhD, Warren Caldwell, MSc, Robbie Woods, MSc, William B. Malarkey, MD

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 5/2017

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Abstract

Background

Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACE) has been associated with elevated circulating inflammatory markers in adulthood. Despite the robust effect of ACE on later health outcomes, not all individuals exposed to ACE suffer from poor health.

Purpose

The goal of this study was to evaluate whether current resilience resources may attenuate the impact of ACE on inflammatory markers among individuals with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.

Methods

Participants (N = 174) completed one-time self-report questionnaires assessing ACE exposure within the first 18 years of life and current resilience resources, and provided blood samples for interleukin-6 (IL-6) and CRP.

Results

Individuals who were exposed to multiple ACE had greater IL-6 than participants with lesser ACE exposure. However, current resilience resources significantly moderated this effect. Among individuals who reported multiple ACE, higher resilience resources were associated with lower IL-6 levels.

Conclusion

These data suggest that resilience resources might attenuate the association between ACE and later health outcomes.
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Metadata
Title
Resilience Resources Moderate the Association of Adverse Childhood Experiences with Adulthood Inflammation
Authors
Jean-Philippe Gouin, PhD
Warren Caldwell, MSc
Robbie Woods, MSc
William B. Malarkey, MD
Publication date
01-10-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 5/2017
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-017-9891-3

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