Adverse childhood experiences in adults with chronic traumatic brain injury: Support for a life course approach to brain injury rehabilitation

• Published in: Disability and health journal 2025-01, Vol.18 (1), p.101714, Article 101714
• Main Authors: Venkatesan, Umesh M., Juengst, Shannon B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adverse childhood experiences; Adverse Childhood Experiences - statistics & numerical data; Aged; Brain Injuries, Traumatic - epidemiology; Brain Injuries, Traumatic - psychology; Brain Injuries, Traumatic - rehabilitation; Bullying - psychology; Bullying - statistics & numerical data; Child Abuse - psychology; Child Abuse - statistics & numerical data; Chronic Disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disabled Persons - psychology; Disabled Persons - statistics & numerical data; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Philadelphia - epidemiology; Physical Abuse - psychology; Physical Abuse - statistics & numerical data; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Residence Characteristics - statistics & numerical data; Trauma; Traumatic brain injury; Violence - psychology; Violence - statistics & numerical data; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1936-6574; 1876-7583; 1876-7583
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2024.101714

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) confer greater risk for adult traumatic brain injury (TBI), but little is known about their effects on post-injury outcomes. To determine the prevalence and correlates of conventionally defined ACEs (occurring within household/in private; e.g., physical abuse) and community-level ACEs (e.g., bullying) after TBI. Participants were 85 Philadelphia-area TBI Model System participants with chronic (>1 year post-injury) TBI. We examined cross-sectional associations between total conventional and community ACEs reported (out of 21) before age 18, mental health symptoms, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), as well as relationships between ACEs and neighborhood deprivation (census-derived neighborhood socioeconomic status). The median number of total ACEs was 3 (range: 0–17). Emotional abuse, physical abuse, and alcohol abuse in the household were the most common conventional ACEs (each at 36.5 %). Witnessing violence (45 %) was the most common community ACE. Black individuals (n = 32) reported more community ACEs (p