Systematic review shows significant associations between adverse childhood experiences and anxiety, depression, and PTSD outcomes in adults, highlighting public health implications.
Key Points
Adverse childhood experiences significantly increase the risk of mental health issues in adulthood, confirming their lasting impact.
Pooled data indicates the strongest association with post-traumatic stress disorder (OR = 2.26), followed by anxiety (OR = 1.78) and depression (OR = 1.61).
This systematic review and meta-analysis incorporated data from 62 studies across 15 countries, revealing global trends in ACE impacts.
Results point to the need for further research on how adverse childhood experiences affect adult mental health outside of high-income countries.