Prospective Longitudinal Associations Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adult Mental Health Outcomes: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Research suggests a strong, dose–response relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and poor adult mental health outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to systematically investigate the existence and strength of prospective associations between ACEs and adult mental health outcomes: anxiety, depression, psychotic-like experiences, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), self-harm, and suicidality. We searched 12 electronic databases for publications after 1990. A narrative synthesis of included studies and random-effects meta-analyses with moderation were completed for all outcomes, excluding self-harm. In total, 62 studies from 15 countries were included. Most studies were from the United States; 95% of publications ( N = 59) came from high-income countries (HICs) and 5% ( N = 3) from upper-middle-income countries. Pooled associations between ACEs and adult mental illness were strongest for PTSD (OR = 2.26; 95% CI 1.75, 2.77), followed by anxiety (OR = 1.78; 95% CI 1.45, 2.11), depression (OR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.45, 1.76), psychotic-like experiences (OR = 1.34; 95% CI 1.13, 1.54), and suicidality (OR = 1.28; 95% CI 1.13, 1.43). Moderation analyses suggested ACEs with a violence or maltreatment component were significant risk factors for adult depression compared to household ACEs, and that study location was a significant moderator in the depression, anxiety, and PTSD models. Further moderation effects will be discussed. Findings confirm ACEs are a significant risk factor for mental ill-health in adulthood. Our review highlights the urgent need for research exploring associations between ACEs measured in childhood and adult mental illness outside of HIC settings.