Different Forms of Childhood Adversity Tied to Different Psychiatric Problems
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Oct. 25, 2024 -- Distinct forms of traumatic and adverse childhood experiences (TRACEs) differentially moderate developmental changes in psychiatric risk and cognitive ability in different ways, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Justin D. Russell, Ph.D., from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health in Madison, and colleagues characterized unique components of 268 commonly co-occurring TRACEs and examined moderation of longitudinal change in mental health and cognitive development during adolescence. The analysis included 11,876 youth-caregiver dyads who completed up to four annual behavioral assessments (2016 to 2021) as part of the ongoing Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study.
The researchers found that TRACEs fell into into eight thematic adversity components (e.g., family conflict, interpersonal violence). Exposure to nearly every adversity component at baseline was associated with poorer mental health and diminished cognitive ability. Different forms of adversity were variably linked to both increases and decreases in internalizing and externalizing problems over time. For example, during early adolescence, while peer aggression and family conflict were associated with increases in both internalizing and externalizing problems, community threat and poverty were linked to decreased problems, potentially representing adaptive suppression of symptoms. During early adolescence, adversity types related to resource deprivation (e.g., poverty, caregiver maladjustment) were associated with declines in cognitive ability.
"These findings hold important implications for advancing prevention and treatment of mental health problems in adversity-exposed youth," the authors write.
One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted October 2024
Read this next
Chronic Exposure to Systemic Inflammation May Increase Risk for Affective Disorders
THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 -- For individuals with specific autoimmune conditions, there appears to be an increased risk for affective disorders, according to a study published online...
Late Childhood Screen Time May Lead to Developmental Changes in Brain
THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 -- Too much screen time in late childhood is associated with developmental changes in the brain, leading to more depressive symptoms in early adolescence...
ADHD Medications Remain Linked to Lower Risk for Real-World Adverse Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, July 2, 2025 -- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications remain associated with a reduced risk for various real-world outcomes, but the magnitude of...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.