Identifying Distinct Latent Classes of Adverse Childhood Experiences Among US Children and Their Relationship with Childhood Internalizing Disorders

• Published in: Child psychiatry and human development Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 668 - 680
• Main Authors: Lew, Daphne, Xian, Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.08.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adverse childhood experiences; Adverse Childhood Experiences - classification; Adverse Childhood Experiences - statistics & numerical data; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis; Anxiety Disorders - epidemiology; Anxiety Disorders - psychology; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Child abuse & neglect; Child and School Psychology; Child Health - statistics & numerical data; Childhood experiences; Childhood factors; Children; Childrens health; Comorbidity; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Disorders; Divorce; Drug abuse; Female; Health information; Humans; Internalization; Internalizing disorders; Latent class analysis; Male; Medical screening; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental health; Mental Health - statistics & numerical data; Mental health services; Original Article; Polls & surveys; Psychiatry; Psychology; Regression analysis; Substance abuse; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment methods; United States - epidemiology; United States; United States > US; Depression; Anxiety; Adverse childhood experience classes; Mental health; Child health
• ISSN: 0009-398X; 1573-3327
• DOI: 10.1007/s10578-019-00871-y

This study aimed to determine the relationship between latent classes of adverse childhood experience (ACEs) and internalizing disorders (anxiety and depression) among US children. The 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health data for children aged 6–17 was used. Latent class analysis was performed to identify distinct sub-types of ACE exposures and survey-weighted logistic regression models were employed to determine whether these classes were associated with any or comorbid childhood internalizing disorders, after controlling for meaningful covariates. Four latent classes were identified: income hardship, divorce, mental health or substance abuse exposure, and high ACEs overall. Children in three of the four classes were significantly more likely to have any childhood internalizing disorder when compared to children reporting no ACEs, while children in all classes were significantly more likely to have a comorbid history of anxiety and depression. Thus, children exposed to ACEs should receive necessary mental health screenings and treatments.