Adverse Childhood Experiences and Alcohol Use: Add Health Assessment

• In Event: Drug & Substance Use and Age

Abstract

This paper examines trajectories of alcohol use across five waves of data in the Add Health study. Experiences during childhood are crucial for the life course and help to establish prosocial (or antisocial) behaviors. Through early childhood development future educational, employment, physical and mental health, relationships and social networks are built. When children are nurtured with positive enforcement and in a prosocial environment, it is more likely that they will be socialized effectively. Conversely, when children have adverse parenting and come from disorganized environments, their chance of having prosocial values are restricted. Children who are not nurtured in positive environments, but are raised with abuse, neglect, and dysfunction place a child at heightened risk for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) (Anda et al., 2006; Felitti et al., 1998). This exposure can lead to future alcohol use disorders, or other serious mental health concerns, like suicidal ideation. The Add Health data demonstrates distinct patterns related to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) emerge among males and females utilizing group-based trajectory modeling.

Authors

• Frances Abderhalden, California State University, Los Angeles

• Sara Z. Evans, Kennesaw State University

• Stephen Watts, University of Memphis