Adverse childhood experiences and different sources of resilience: unveiling the patterns that shape mental health
Janković,Marija Bogaerts,Stefan Sijtsema,Jelle
Janković,Marija
Bogaerts,Stefan
Sijtsema,Jelle
Abstract
Critical gaps exist in how distinct classes of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) differ in various forms of resilience and shape mental health. This study investigated ACE classes and their differences in psychological and social-ecological resilience, ACE-related stress, and psychopathology, as well as how these forms of resilience moderate the relationship between ACE classes and psychopathology. The sample comprised 407 (71.0% female; ages 18 to 75) Dutch community members. Latent class analysis of 10 ACEs identified three classes: low (57.0%), moderate (35.1%), and high (7.9%). The classes differed significantly on all outcome variables: psychological resilience (Wald = 7.74, p = .02), social-ecological resilience (Wald = 25.12, p < .001), ACE-related stress (Wald = 317.43, p < .001), total difficulty score (Wald = 43.11, p < .001), internalizing behaviors (Wald = 34.05, p < .001), and externalizing behaviors (Wald = 23.58, p < .001). The high class demonstrated the greatest psychological resilience but the lowest social-ecological resilience, while the low class displayed higher levels of both resilience types than the moderate class. The high class also exhibited the highest levels of perceived stress, total difficulty scores, and internalizing and externalizing problems. In contrast, the low class reported the lowest levels, with the moderate class in between. Lastly, neither type of resilience was a significant moderator. The study confirms that severe ACEs are linked to increased psychopathological problems and underscores the relevance of enhancing psychological resilience in individuals with moderate ACEs and social-ecological resilience in those severely affected.
Description
The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-025-08420-8.
Date
2025-09-11
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Publisher
Research Projects
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Keywords
adverse childhood experiences, latent class anaysis, psychological resilience, Social-ecological resilience, psychopathology
Citation
Janković, M, Bogaerts, S & Sijtsema, J 2025, 'Adverse childhood experiences and different sources of resilience: unveiling the patterns that shape mental health', Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-025-08420-8