Curran, Sonya, McLaughlin, Deirdre, Gobikrushanth, Mohanathas, and Scotney, Rebekah (2025) The Long Shadow of Childhood Trauma on Subsequent Adult Mental Health. Traumatology. (In Press)

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Abstract

Research suggests adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), occurring during the first 18 years of life, can negatively influence developmental processes including cognitive, physical, and social–emotional domains with significant implications for life-long mental health, specifically anxiety and depression. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between types of ACE exposure, degree of exposure, and the development of anxiety and depression. A sample of 98 adults (aged 21–68 years, M = 43.7 years, SD = 12) recruited from counselling organizations completed a self-report questionnaire about ACEs (The Adverse Childhood Experiences—International Questionnaire), anxiety (Anxiety Sensitivity Index) and lifetime major depression (The Brief Screening Scale for Lifetime Major Depression). Linear and logistic regression analyses were completed to determine associations between subcategories of the Adverse Childhood Experiences—International Questionnaire, and the development of anxiety and depression. This study revealed significant associations between ACEs and anxiety and ACEs and depression for those who experienced a greater number of ACEs, compared to those who experienced fewer. Additionally, greater anxiety was associated with negative experiences within the home environment, specifically witnessing abuse/violence in the home, and experiencing sexual abuse, emotional neglect, emotional abuse, and physical abuse. Higher levels of depression were associated with physical neglect, emotional neglect, witnessing abuse in the home and living with a family member who abused drugs/alcohol. There may be greater impact with numerous cumulative ACEs on the development of episodic or life-long anxiety and depression symptomology.

Item ID:	89455
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1085-9373
Copyright Information:	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). This license permits copying and redistributing the work in any medium or format, as well as adapting the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Date Deposited:	11 Nov 2025 01:13
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