Saint Louis University associate professor of health management and policy in the College for Public Health and Social Justice, SangNam Ahn, Ph.D., recently published a paper in the Journal of Clinical Psychology that explores the connection between childhood adversity and psychiatric decline, as well as adult adversity and psychiatric and cognitive decline. Ahn’s team found that a single instance of adversity in childhood can increase the likelihood of mental illness later in life, and adverse events in adulthood can lead to a higher risk of both mental illness and cognitive decline in the future.
\”Life is very complex and dynamic,\” Ahn stated. \”I wanted to emphasize the importance of investigating the lasting health impacts of adversity, not only in childhood but also in adulthood, on health outcomes, particularly physical health, psychiatric health, and cognitive health. While there have been previous studies on this topic, our research is one of the first to comprehensively examine these issues.\”
Ahn and his research team analyzed data from nearly 3500 individuals over a 24-year period. They used longitudinal data and assessed it based on a list of potential traumatic events experienced throughout life.
The study included childhood adversity events such as financial difficulties leading to relocation, parental unemployment, legal troubles before age 18, repeating a grade in school, physical abuse, and parental substance abuse. Adulthood adversity events encompassed the loss of a child or spouse, experiencing a natural disaster, combat exposure, partner substance abuse, physical assault, serious illness in a family member, reliance on government assistance, and unemployment.
The research revealed that almost 40% of individuals had experienced childhood adversity, and nearly 80% had encountered adulthood adversity. Those who had childhood adversity were 17% more likely to face adversity in adulthood. While only 13% reported multiple forms of childhood adversity, 52% experienced two or more adulthood adversities.
In cases of either childhood or adulthood adversity, individuals who had experienced adversity were more prone to anxiety and depression later in life. Additionally, those who faced adulthood adversity had a higher likelihood of cognitive decline in the future.
Individuals with a single childhood adversity experience had a 5% higher risk of anxiety, while those with two or more experiences had a 26% and 10% higher chance of depression and anxiety, respectively. Those who experienced two adulthood adversities had a 24% higher probability of depression and a 3% cognitive decline later in life.
One interesting finding from the study was the relationship between education and adversity experiences. Participants with higher levels of education reported fewer adversity experiences. Ahn plans to further investigate how education can potentially mitigate or prevent these negative outcomes.
\”Before considering education, there was a clear link between childhood adversity and cognitive impairment,\” Ahn noted. \”However, when education was factored in, that association disappeared. This suggests that education plays a crucial role in buffering the effects of childhood adversity, potentially helping individuals develop positive coping strategies and avoid unhealthy behaviors like smoking or excessive drinking.\”
Ahn emphasized the importance of discussing stress with clinicians and peers to better understand its impact on physical and mental health. By raising awareness and addressing stress proactively, individuals can potentially minimize the lasting effects of adverse experiences.
\”Public health is increasingly focusing on stress and its long-term effects on health,\” Ahn explained. \”It is essential for individuals to recognize and address their stress levels, whether through discussions with healthcare providers, peers, or in educational settings. By acknowledging and managing stress, we can better navigate the adversities we encounter in life.\”
