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Associations Between Configurations of Childhood Adversity and Adult Mental Health Disorder Outcomes.

Christina KamisScott LynchWilliam E Copeland
Published in: Society and mental health (2023)
The life course perspective and cumulative inequality theory suggest that childhood adversity, occurring during a sensitive period of the life course, can have long-term consequences for adult mental health and well-being. Yet, the long-term influence of adversity on adult outcomes may depend on both the features of adverse childhood experiences (e.g., the number, type, and co-occurrence of adversities) as well as the outcome assessed. Using latent class analysis applied to several waves of prospective data from the Great Smoky Mountain Study (GSMS; N=1,420) we identify subpopulations that are similar in their adversity experiences before age 18. We then predict adult internalizing and substance use disorder diagnoses by adversity experience. Results reveal five distinct classes of adversity, with unique risks for specific diagnoses in adulthood.
Keyphrases
  • early life
  • mental health
  • childhood cancer
  • mental illness
  • type diabetes
  • gene expression
  • depressive symptoms
  • big data
  • artificial intelligence