Adverse childhood experience and chronic conditions: Diminished returns of the adult SES

• In Event: 4266 - Section on Aging and the Life Course Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: 4. Disparities

Abstract

A growing body of studies highlights that health problems in middle and later life are rooted in childhood adversities. However, less is known about the racial/ethnic differences in the effects of early life stressors on health. Drawing on the life course stress process model and cumulative disadvantage hypothesis, this study investigates the racial/ethnic and gender differences in the effects of childhood adverse experiences (ACEs) on chronic health conditions in later life and how health gains of adult socioeconomic status vary by race/ethnicity. This study uses data from four rounds of the Behavioral Risk Factor and Surveillance System (2009-2012). The analyses are based on Poisson regression models which predict the count of chronic medical conditions as a function of ACEs. Findings suggest that racial/ethnic minorities and women have disproportionate rates of ACEs compared to non-Hispanic whites. The ACE-chronic condition relationships vary by race/ethnicity and gender. In particular, the association is stronger among women and racial/ethnic minorities such as Asian, Hawaiian, Hispanics, and blacks compared to non-Hispanic whites. The health gains of adult socioeconomic status is significantly weaker for women and certain racial/ethnic minorities such as American Indians, Hawaiians, Hispanics, and Blacks.

Author

• Jalal Uddin, University of Alabama at Birmingham