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Cumulative exposure to childhood stressors and subsequent psychological distress. An analysis of US panel data

Author

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  • Björkenstam, Emma
  • Burström, Bo
  • Brännström, Lars
  • Vinnerljung, Bo
  • Björkenstam, Charlotte
  • Pebley, Anne R.

Abstract

Research has shown that childhood stress increases the risk of poor mental health later in life. We examined the effect of childhood stressors on psychological distress and self-reported depression in young adulthood. Data were obtained from the Child Development Supplement (CDS) to the national Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), a survey of US families that incorporates data from parents and their children. In 2005 and 2007, the Panel Study of Income Dynamics was supplemented with two waves of Transition into Adulthood (TA) data drawn from a national sample of young adults, 18–23 years old. This study included data from participants in the CDS and the TA (n = 2128), children aged 4–13 at baseline. Data on current psychological distress was used as an outcome variable in logistic regressions, calculated as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Latent Class Analyses were used to identify clusters based on the different childhood stressors. Associations were observed between cumulative exposure to childhood stressors and both psychological distress and self-reported depression. Individuals being exposed to three or more stressors had the highest risk (crude OR for psychological distress: 2.49 (95% CI: 1.16–5.33), crude OR for self-reported depression: 2.07 (95% CI: 1.15–3.71). However, a large part was explained by adolescent depressive symptoms. Findings support the long-term negative impact of cumulative exposure to childhood stress on psychological distress. The important role of adolescent depression in this association also needs to be taken into consideration in future studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Björkenstam, Emma & Burström, Bo & Brännström, Lars & Vinnerljung, Bo & Björkenstam, Charlotte & Pebley, Anne R., 2015. "Cumulative exposure to childhood stressors and subsequent psychological distress. An analysis of US panel data," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 109-117.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:142:y:2015:i:c:p:109-117
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.08.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hope Corman & Robert Kaestner, 1992. "The effects of child health on marital status and family structure," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 29(3), pages 389-408, August.
    2. Weitoft, Gunilla Ringbäck & Hjern, Anders & Batljan, Ilija & Vinnerljung, Bo, 2008. "Health and social outcomes among children in low-income families and families receiving social assistance--A Swedish national cohort study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 14-30, January.
    3. McMunn, Anne M. & Nazroo, James Y. & Marmot, Michael G. & Boreham, Richard & Goodman, Robert, 2001. "Children's emotional and behavioural well-being and the family environment: findings from the Health Survey for England," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 423-440, August.
    4. Emma Björkenstam & Anders Hjern & Ellenor Mittendorfer-Rutz & Bo Vinnerljung & Johan Hallqvist & Rickard Ljung, 2013. "Multi-Exposure and Clustering of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Socioeconomic Differences and Psychotropic Medication in Young Adults," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, January.
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    1. Mashhood Ahmed Sheikh, 2018. "Childhood adversities and chronic conditions: examination of mediators, recall bias and age at diagnosis," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 63(2), pages 181-192, March.
    2. Mark W. Olofson, 2018. "A New Measurement of Adverse Childhood Experiences Drawn from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics Child Development Supplement," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 11(2), pages 629-647, April.
    3. Mersky, Joshua P. & Janczewski, Colleen E. & Nitkowski, Jenna C., 2018. "Poor mental health among low-income women in the U.S.: The roles of adverse childhood and adult experiences," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 14-21.

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