Straatmann, VS, Whitehead, M 
ORCID: 0000-0001-5614-6576 and Taylor-Robinson, DC ORCID: 0000-0002-5828-7724
(2018)
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES OR ADVERSE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS? ASSESSING IMPACTS ON ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH IN THE UK MILLENNIUM COHORT STUDY
In: Oral presentations.
Abstract
Background Maltreatment in childhood is associated with subsequent adverse health outcomes, but more recently the concept of ‘adverse childhood experiences’ (ACEs) has gaining increasing policy traction. Various adverse childhood exposures and risk conditions have been termed ACEs and have been associated with poor subsequent health outcomes, particularly mental health, but less consideration has been given to the interplay of these factors with childhood socio-economic circumstances (SECs). We aimed to explore the social patterning of ACEs, and the extent to which ACEs explain the association of SECs and adolescent mental health.Methods We used data from the U.K. Millennium Cohort Study based on 6748 children (9 months, 3, 5, and 14 years’ old sweeps). The outcome was adolescent mental health at age 14 (Total Difficulties Score of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire;>17 score borderline-abnormal); poverty was used as a measure of SEC at birth (Income <60% average). ACEs were scored through 7 factors (verbal and physical maltreatment; parental drug use [age 5]; maternal domestic violence, parental divorce, maternal mental illness, and alcohol abuse [age 3 or 5]), and we generated a binary definition of exposure to 4 or more ACEs (yes/no). Counterfactual mediation analysis was used to estimate the total effect of SECs on odds of mental health problems (MHP) at age 14; and to assess the proportion mediated through exposure to multiple ACEs, using the paramed function in STATA.Results 8.4% were exposed to multiple ACEs by age 5% and 12.6% of adolescents had MHP at age 14. Adolescent MHP and exposure to ACEs were more common among those growing up in low vs high SECs, respectively (8.3%[7.4–9.2] vs 18.8%[16.9–20.9]); 10%[8.2–12.1] vs 7.9%[7.0–8.9)]. Exposure to ACEs was associated with an increased odds of MHP (OR2.2 [1.5–3.0]). The total effect of low SECs on adolescent MHP was OR 1.9 (1.5–2.3). Overall 8% of the total effect of SEC on odds of MHP was mediated through exposure to ACEs.
| Item Type: | Conference Item (Unspecified) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 4202 Epidemiology, 4206 Public Health, 42 Health Sciences, Violence Research, Child Abuse and Neglect Research, Mental Health, Substance Misuse, Behavioral and Social Science, Youth Violence, Basic Behavioral and Social Science, Social Determinants of Health, Health Disparities and Racial or Ethnic Minority Health Research, Health Disparities, Childhood Injury, Pediatric Research Initiative, Clinical Research, 2.3 Psychological, social and economic factors, Mental health, 3 Good Health and Well Being |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Oct 2018 09:54 |
| Last Modified: | 22 May 2026 21:38 |
| DOI: | 10.1136/jech-2018-SSMabstracts.119 |
| Open Access URL: | https://jech.bmj.com/content/72/Suppl_1/A57.2 |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3027736 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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