Adverse childhood experiences in adults with chronic traumatic brain injury: Support for a life course approach to brain injury rehabilitation

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) confer greater risk for adult traumatic brain injury (TBI), but little is known about their effects on post-injury outcomes.

Objective

To determine the prevalence and correlates of conventionally defined ACEs (occurring within household/in private; e.g., physical abuse) and community-level ACEs (e.g., bullying) after TBI.

Methods

Participants were 85 Philadelphia-area TBI Model System participants with chronic (>1 year post-injury) TBI. We examined cross-sectional associations between total conventional and community ACEs reported (out of 21) before age 18, mental health symptoms, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), as well as relationships between ACEs and neighborhood deprivation (census-derived neighborhood socioeconomic status).

Results

The median number of total ACEs was 3 (range: 0–17). Emotional abuse, physical abuse, and alcohol abuse in the household were the most common conventional ACEs (each at 36.5 %). Witnessing violence (45 %) was the most common community ACE. Black individuals (n = 32) reported more community ACEs (p < .001) than White individuals (n = 45). Community ACEs were significantly associated with greater neighborhood deprivation, though this relationship was confounded by race. Total ACEs was significantly related to more severe mental health symptoms (p < .001) and poorer HRQoL (p = .005), even after covariate adjustment. A fully-adjusted path model supported mental health as a mediator between total ACEs and HRQoL.

Conclusions

Results of this preliminary study reveal an appreciable prevalence and potential far-reaching consequences of conventional and community ACEs among those with chronic TBI. The results underscore the value of trauma-informed and life course approaches to research and clinical care in TBI.