TY - JOUR
T1 - Adverse childhood experiences and different sources of resilience: unveiling the patterns that shape mental health
AU - Janković, Marija
AU - Bogaerts, Stefan
AU - Sijtsema, Jelle
N1 - The online version contains supplementary
material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-025-08420-8.
PY - 2025/9/11
Y1 - 2025/9/11
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - adverse childhood experiences
KW - latent class anaysis
KW - psychological resilience
KW - Social-ecological resilience
KW - psychopathology
U2 - 10.1007/s12144-025-08420-8
DO - 10.1007/s12144-025-08420-8
M3 - Article
SN - 1046-1310
JO - Current Psychology
JF - Current Psychology
ER -