RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY

Abstract

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) encompass stressful life events (during the first 18 years of life) with the potential to transform into trauma. They include various types of abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction. Previous research has shown that ACE-s are associated with many psychophysical disorders in adulthood. This research examines the relationship between the categories of adverse childhood experiences on the one hand, and depression and anxiety in students, on the other. The sample includes 115 respondents from the student population (80 girls) aged 19 to 29 years. This research examines the correlation of ACE with depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7). The results showed that the overall ACE score positively correlated with both depression (r = .36, BF10 > 100) and anxiety (r = .36, BF10 > 100). At the level of individual ACE categories, anxiety is most correlated with peer isolation (r = .40, BF10 > 100) and exposure to environmental violence (r = .28, BF10 = 12.12). ACE categories that have the highest correlations with depression are peer isolation (r = .41, BF10 > 100) and substance abuse in the family (r = .28, BF10 > 12.66). These findings show that peer isolation is the best predictor of anxiety and depression scores. Anxiety is more related to adverse factors from the external environment. In the case of depression, there is a combination of adverse factors, both outside and inside the family.