Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with several negative health and behavioral outcomes during adolescence, but most of the extant research has employed ACEs scores at one or two time points. Studies have not assessed whether latent class ACEs trajectories affect adolescent problem behaviors and conditions. We used longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS, = 3444) to assess ACEs at several time points and empirically developed latent class trajectories. We then examined the sociodemographic characteristics of youth who belonged to each trajectory group. We next evaluated whether the ACEs trajectories during childhood were associated with delinquent behavior, substance use, and symptoms of anxiety or depression. Finally, we explored whether closeness to mother buffered the impact of ACEs on these outcomes. Eight types of ACEs were captured in the FFCWS data. ACE scores were assessed at year one, three, five, and nine, along with the outcomes during year 15. Trajectories were estimated with a semiparametric latent class models. The analysis revealed three latent trajectories during childhood: a low/none ACEs group, a medium exposure group, and a high exposure group. Adolescents in the high exposure group manifested a heightened risk of involvement in delinquent behaviors and substance use. They also reported more symptoms of anxiety and depression than their peers in the low/none and medium exposure groups. Repeated exposure to ACEs during childhood can have serious negative repercussions in the lives of adolescents, but maternal closeness may buffer their effects. Scholars should continue to examine the dynamics of ACEs exposure during childhood by using empirical approaches appropriate for identifying age-graded trajectories.

中文翻译：

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用潜在的阶级轨迹衡量不良的童年经历

不良童年经历 (ACE) 与青春期期间的一些负面健康和行为结果相关，但大多数现有研究都在一两个时间点采用 ACE 评分。研究尚未评估潜在 ACE 类轨迹是否影响青少年问题行为和状况。我们使用来自脆弱家庭和儿童福祉研究 (FFCWS, = 3444) 的纵向数据来评估多个时间点的 ACE，并根据经验开发潜在阶级轨迹。然后，我们研究了属于每个轨迹组的年轻人的社会人口特征。接下来，我们评估了童年时期的 ACE 轨迹是否与犯罪行为、药物滥用以及焦虑或抑郁症状相关。最后，我们探讨了与母亲的亲密关系是否缓冲了 ACE 对这些结果的影响。 FFCWS 数据中捕获了八种类型的 ACE。在第一年、第三年、第五年和第九年评估 ACE 分数，以及第 15 年的结果。轨迹是用半参数潜在类模型估计的。分析揭示了儿童时期的三个潜在轨迹：低/无 ACE 组、中等暴露组和高暴露组。高暴露组的青少年表现出参与犯罪行为和物质使用的风险更高。与低/无和中度暴露组的同龄人相比，他们还报告了更多的焦虑和抑郁症状。童年时期反复接触 ACE 可能会对青少年的生活产生严重的负面影响，但与母亲的亲密关系可能会缓冲其影响。学者们应该通过使用适合确定年龄分级轨迹的经验方法，继续研究儿童时期 ACE 暴露的动态。