Language

English

Publication Date

1-1-2026

Journal

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

DOI

10.1007/s11469-025-01527-w

PMID

42634621

PMCID

PMC13499878

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

8-6-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), expressed as summary scores, are associated with adverse adult outcomes. We aimed to detect more nuanced associations via latent class analysis (LCA) of ACEs. We tested associations between class membership and adult anxiety, depression, loneliness, stress, and substance-use patterns/disorders. Our nationwide data set, part of our larger study of substance use with or without addiction, included 2615 mTurk workers with any past-6-month alcohol use (71.6% n = 986) or any past-6-month nonmedical use of opioids or stimulants (28.4%, n = 391). Using a 10-item ACE questionnaire, we identified high, moderate, and two differentiable low-ACE classes (exposed to either parental substance use or divorce). In regression models, the high-ACE class had more past-year substance use (ORs 2.01–3.38, R2 = 0.12), problematic use (ORs 1.89–2.66, R2 = 0.10), SUD treatment (ORs 2.10–5.45, R2 = 0.15), and psychological symptoms (betas 1.32–8.74, R2 = 0.11–0.19). Despite aggregate associations, the low R2 values underscore within-class heterogeneity in outcomes. ACE patterns are informative about adult outcomes in the aggregate, but do not support case-by-case inferences.

Keywords

Adverse childhood events, Latent class analysis, Adult psychological symptoms, Substance use disorder, Substance use patterns, Adult outcomes

Published Open-Access

yes

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