Summary
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) impact adult health. However, differences in ACEs, PCEs, and mental health have not been extensively studied among Asian Americans. Researchers examine the association between childhood experiences and adult mental health in first- and second-generation Asian Americans.
The study included 5,744 self-reported Asian respondents aged 18–65 years and 15 different ACEs and 7 different PCEs. Authors used data from the 2021–2022 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).
Authors measure the adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) of severe psychological distress for each generation. Survey weights were applied to all analyses for population-based representation.
Findings: 5,744 Asian Americans (48.0% male, 16.4% aged 18–25) were included in the current study. Researchers found that second-generation Asian Americans experienced a greater prevalence of ACEs and lower prevalence of PCEs. Second-generation Asian Americans were more likely to report ≥4 ACEs and ≤2 PCEs relative to first-generation Asian Americans. Second-generation Asian Americans with ≥4 ACEs or ≤2 PCEs were more likely to report severe psychological distress relative to first-generation Asian Americans.
When examining ACEs and PCEs individually, domestic, physical, and verbal abuse; divorce; racism; and lacking support systems were significantly associated with severe psychological distress in second-generation Asian Americans.
Second-generation Asian Americans are more likely to experience more ACEs, fewer PCEs, and poorer mental health as a result. The study indicates that physicians should screen for childhood experiences and leverage trauma-informed care among Asian-American subpopulations.
