Adverse childhood experience patterns, major depressive disorder, and substance use disorder in older adults

Abstract

Objectives

This article investigates distinct patterns of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in a representative sample of US older adults, and how the ACEs patterns relate to major depression and substance use disorder (SUD).

Methods

Data came from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III. The study sample consisted of older adults aged 55 or older (N = 11,386). The dependent variable was past-year SUD measuring any DSM-5 diagnosis for alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other illicit drugs. The independent variables were the classes of ACEs identified using 11 types of early adversities. The mediating variable was past-year major depressive disorder. We conducted a latent class analysis (LCA) to identify latent classes of ACEs, estimated the relationships between the ACEs classes, major depressive disorder, and SUD, and tested mediation by major depression.

Results

Results of the LCA identified four classes of ACEs: High Adversity (6%), Low Adversity (69%), Child Abuse (16%), and Parental Substance Use (8%). The three classes of High Adversity, Child Abuse, and Parental Substance Use showed significantly higher rates of SUD than the Low Adversity class. The High Adversity and Child Abuse classes were more likely to have major depression compared to the Low Adversity class. In addition, major depression mediated the association between ACEs and SUD for those two classes.

Conclusion

The findings provide evidence for a long-term impact of ACEs on mental health and SUD later in life and emphasize trauma-informed care principles in interventions for older adults with SUD.

Keywords:

• Adverse childhood experiences
• substance use disorder
• major depressive disorder
• latent class analysis
• National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III

Acknowledgements

This manuscript was prepared using a limited access dataset obtained from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and does not reflect the opinions or views of NIAAA or the US Government.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.