Tracing Trauma: Patterns and Trajectories of Adverse Childhood Experiences Across Development

• In Event: Trajectories of Violence Exposure: Risk, Contact, and Consequences

Abstract

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are widely recognized as key determinants of health, well-being, and long-term life outcomes. Yet, research has focused mainly on cumulative ACE scores rather than how specific adversities cluster and evolve across childhood. This study addresses these gaps by utilizing data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) to examine patterns of ACE exposure over time. Employing latent clustering techniques in Stata, we first assess whether distinct ACEs, such as household instability, neglect, abuse, and exposure to violence, tend to co-occur among children of the same age, providing insight into the structure and interconnections of adversity. Second, leveraging multiple waves of FFCWS data from birth through age 15, we analyze how ACEs unfold developmentally, identifying trajectories of cumulative risk, transitions into and out of adversity, and potential sensitive periods during which children may be particularly vulnerable. By moving beyond static measures of ACEs, this research offers a more dynamic perspective on childhood adversity, highlighting when and how interventions might be most effective. Findings will contribute to a nuanced understanding of risk accumulation across childhood, informing the design of policies and prevention strategies that target specific developmental windows to mitigate long-term harm.

Author

• Sarah Davis, Penn State University