The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Risk of Cancer in Adulthood: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Holman, Dawn M.; Ports, Katie A.; Buchanan, Natasha; Hawkins, Nikki A.; Merrick, Melissa T.; Metzler, Marilyn; Trivers, Katrina F.

doi:10.1542/peds.2015-4268l

Cited by 164 publications

(124 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…This is important because, in non-cancer populations, intervention studies targeting some psychological resources have proven to be ineffective, such as those targeting self-esteem (Baumeister, Campbell, Krueger, & Vohs, 2003), and individuals with a trauma history may benefit from different types of treatment than those without (Lewis et al, 2010; Nanni et al, 2012; Weisz, McCarty, & Valeri, 2006). Childhood maltreatment may predispose individuals to cancer (Holman et al, 2016), and is associated with earlier all-cause mortality (Chen, Turiano, Mroczek, & Miller, 2016). Identifying key psychological pathways from childhood maltreatment to psychopathology that are responsive to interventions is essential to mitigating the lifelong health disparities associated with childhood maltreatment exposure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Childhood maltreatment, psychological resources, and depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer

Kuhlman

Boyle

Irwin

et al. 2017

Child Abuse & Neglect

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Childhood maltreatment is associated with elevated risk for depression across the human lifespan. Identifying the pathways through which childhood maltreatment relates to depressive symptoms may elucidate intervention targets that have the potential to reduce the lifelong negative health sequelae of maltreatment exposure. In this cross-sectional study, 271 women with early-stage breast cancer were assessed after their diagnosis but before the start of adjuvant treatment (chemotherapy, radiation, endocrine therapy). Participants completed measures of childhood maltreatment exposure, psychological resources (optimism, mastery, self-esteem, mindfulness), and depressive symptoms. Using multiple mediation analyses, we examined which psychological resources uniquely mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms. Exposure to maltreatment during childhood was robustly associated with lower psychological resources and elevated depressive symptoms. Further, lower optimism and mindfulness mediated the association between childhood maltreatment and elevated depressive symptoms. These results support existing theory that childhood maltreatment is associated with lower psychological resources, which partially explains elevated depressive symptoms in a sample of women facing breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. These findings warrant replication in populations facing other major life events and highlight the need for additional studies examining childhood maltreatment as a moderator of treatment outcomes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Childhood maltreatment, psychological resources, and depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer

Kuhlman

Boyle

Irwin

et al. 2017

Child Abuse & Neglect

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“…Nearly 66% of U.S. adults report at least 1 ACE during childhood, and 20% report 4 or more. ACEs are associated with increased risk of chronic diseases and early death in adulthood, and have been estimated to cost billions of dollars in direct medical expenses and work‐related absenteeism . Headaches are a potential physical manifestation of ACEs, and several studies have shown a relationship between ACEs and headache disorders, including migraine, among adults .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…ACEs are associated with increased risk of chronic diseases and early death in adulthood, and have been estimated to cost billions of dollars in direct medical expenses and work-related absenteeism. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Headaches are a potential physical manifestation of ACEs, and several studies have shown a relationship between ACEs and headache disorders, including migraine, among adults. 1,[7][8][9][10][11][12] Numerous pathophysiological theories have been suggested to explain the association between ACEs and headaches, including depression and anxiety, which are common comorbidities in patients with headaches and were found to be associated withACEs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Headaches Among Children: A Cross‐Sectional Analysis

et al. 2020

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Objectives This cross‐sectional study examined the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and history of frequent headaches (including migraine) among children 3‐17 years old using data from the 2016 and 2017 U.S. National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). Background ACEs include abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual), parental divorce, death, mental illness, or addiction, and are linked to higher morbidity and mortality in adulthood. A relationship between ACEs and headaches exists among adults, but studies examining the relationship among children are lacking. To our knowledge, no studies have examined the link among children using NSCH data. Methods The NSCH is a nationally representative survey of U.S. children’s physical and emotional well‐being aimed at understanding their health needs. Parental‐reported information was collected on child history of headaches and 9 ACEs for the selected child. The survey collected information on 71,881 children in 2016 and 2017 out of which 61,565 were eligible for the study (age ≥3 years and not missing data on history headaches). Children with missing values for headache, ACEs, or covariates (n = 58,958) were excluded from the final analysis. We used multivariable logistic regression with survey weighting and adjusted for demographics and comorbidities (anxiety, depression, epilepsy, and brain injury) to examine the association between ACEs and headaches overall and stratified by gender. We further assessed the independent relationship between each ACE and headaches. Results In the current study, out of 61,656 children, 26,884 (48.6%) experienced at least 1 ACE and 3426 (6.5%) experienced 4+ ACEs. Overall, compared with children with no ACEs, the adjusted odds of headache were 1.34 times higher among children with 1 reported ACE (95% CI: 1.07, 1.68), 2.15 times higher among children with 2 ACEs (95% CI: 1.66, 2.80), 1.89 times higher among children with 3 ACEs (95% CI: 1.40, 2.53), and 3.40 times higher among children with 4+ ACEs (95% CI: 2.61, 4.43). Females with 3 and 4+ ACEs were somewhat more likely to report headaches compared to males with the same number of ACEs. Individually, no ACE was independently associated with history of headaches except for difficulty due to family’s income (aOR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.98, 3.06). Conclusion Experiencing one or more ACEs vs none was associated with higher risk of headaches in children, and difficulty due to family’s income was the only ACE independently associated with headaches. Our findings support results of other studies on ACEs and headache in young adults and suggest that adverse ACE‐related health outcomes begin earlier than previously recognized. Additionally, struggling due to low income may represent a constellation of chronic stressors that independently contribute to poor health outcomes in childhood as compared to other individual ACEs. Future research should examine the importance of specific ACE clusters and stressors during childhood.

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“…Evidence shows that ACEs are a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in adults with dose-response relationships between the number of ACEs and chronic diseases. 5,32 With the strong relationship between ACEs, toxic stress, and adverse health outcomes, the question arises as to how the LLBZ community members, especially the centenarians, are able to achieve such resilient longevity despite enduring tremendous childhood adversity.…”

Section: Original Research and Contributions Adverse Childhood Experienmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adverse Childhood Experiences among a Community of Resilient Centenarians and Seniors: Implications for a Chronic Disease Prevention Framework

Spencer-Hwang

Torres

Valladares

et al. 2018

TPJ

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Context: Research has linked adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with chronic disease in adults and diminished life span. Adverse biological embedding of ACEs potentially occurs through inflammatory mechanisms; inflammatory marker alterations are identified as candidate biomarkers for mediating health consequences. Lifestyle practices of residents of California's Loma Linda Blue Zone, one of five worldwide longevity hotspots, may provide insight into inflammation remediation and chronic disease prevention. Little research has been done on centenarians' early-life experiences or on ACEs in a longevity community.Objective: To interview centenarians and seniors in this region regarding their childhood experiences to inform chronic disease prevention frameworks.Design: Qualitative study of Loma Linda Blue Zone community members. Childhood exposures and practices were assessed using focus groups and semistructured key informant interviews, with open-ended questions on general hardships and ACEs and supplemented with lifestyle and resiliency factor questions. Data were audiorecorded and transcribed. Integrative grounded theory methods guided coding and theming.Main Outcome Measures: Exposure to ACEs and practice of resiliency factors. Results: Participants (7 centenarians and 29 seniors) reported exposure to multiple ACEs (domains: Economic deprivation, family dysfunction, and community violence). Community members reported practicing resiliency factors, each with anti-inflammatory properties suggesting mitigation of ACE-related toxic stress.Conclusion: This is one of the first studies of its kind to identify a community of resilient members despite their tremendous burden of ACEs. Embedding the identified resiliency factors into chronic disease prevention frameworks has potential for mitigating systemic inflammation, alleviating chronic disease burden, and promoting a culture of health.

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The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Risk of Cancer in Adulthood: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Cited by 164 publications

References 43 publications

Childhood maltreatment, psychological resources, and depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer

Childhood maltreatment, psychological resources, and depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Headaches Among Children: A Cross‐Sectional Analysis

Adverse Childhood Experiences among a Community of Resilient Centenarians and Seniors: Implications for a Chronic Disease Prevention Framework

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