The 12-Year Longitudinal Impact of Risk and Resilience Trajectories on Adult Health Following Childhood Trauma
While adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to increase mental illness risk, their long-term impact on comprehensive mental well-being—and resilience from a strengths-based lens—has been less explored. This study examined well-being trajectories in individuals with and without ACEs and their ability to predict functional outcomes over 12 years.
The TWIN-10 longitudinal study followed 1,668 healthy Australian adults at four time points (2009–2024). ACE exposure was measured at baseline, with participants stratified into ACE and non-ACE groups. Well-being was assessed longitudinally using the Composure, Own-Worth, Mastery, Positivity, Achievement, Satisfaction–Wellbeing (COMPAS-W) scale, a composite measure of mental well-being which encompasses happiness, self-worth, and purpose. To capture the real-world impacts of well-being, subsequent functional outcomes—covering mental and physical health, lifestyle behaviors, and social and psychological functioning—were captured at 10- and 12-year follow-ups.
Using growth mixture modeling, distinct higher and lower well-being trajectories were found in both groups. Fewer individuals with ACEs were in the higher well-being trajectory (66%) compared to those without ACEs (85%). However, those with ACEs who maintained higher well-being experienced broad long-term health benefits, including lower risk of psychiatric illness, obesity, and sleep or alcohol problems, and higher odds of good social, occupational, and lifestyle functioning. While similar trends were seen in the non-ACE group, effects were less pronounced.
These findings highlight that individuals exposed to ACEs can still achieve and maintain moderate-to-high well-being and associated health benefits. Promoting mental well-being may therefore offer an important complementary pathway to mitigate the long-term impacts of early adversity.
PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT
Looking beyond mental ill health, how adverse childhood experiences influence positive health and well-being over the course of adulthood remains unclear. The present findings suggest that, while exposure to adverse childhood experiences may increase classification of having lower well-being over the long term, those who do sustain positive well-being are at decreased risk for diverse negative health outcomes, with significant benefits apparent across far-reaching health and lifestyle domains.
Web | DOI | American Psychologist | Open Access
Elizabeth Connon; Haeme R P Park; Robin M Turner; Leanne M Williams; Justine M Gatt
While adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to increase mental illness risk, their long-term impact on comprehensive mental well-being—and resilience from a strengths-based lens—has been less explored. This study examined well-being trajectories in individuals with and without ACEs and their ability to predict functional outcomes over 12 years.
The TWIN-10 longitudinal study followed 1,668 healthy Australian adults at four time points (2009–2024). ACE exposure was measured at baseline, with participants stratified into ACE and non-ACE groups. Well-being was assessed longitudinally using the Composure, Own-Worth, Mastery, Positivity, Achievement, Satisfaction–Wellbeing (COMPAS-W) scale, a composite measure of mental well-being which encompasses happiness, self-worth, and purpose. To capture the real-world impacts of well-being, subsequent functional outcomes—covering mental and physical health, lifestyle behaviors, and social and psychological functioning—were captured at 10- and 12-year follow-ups.
Using growth mixture modeling, distinct higher and lower well-being trajectories were found in both groups. Fewer individuals with ACEs were in the higher well-being trajectory (66%) compared to those without ACEs (85%). However, those with ACEs who maintained higher well-being experienced broad long-term health benefits, including lower risk of psychiatric illness, obesity, and sleep or alcohol problems, and higher odds of good social, occupational, and lifestyle functioning. While similar trends were seen in the non-ACE group, effects were less pronounced.
These findings highlight that individuals exposed to ACEs can still achieve and maintain moderate-to-high well-being and associated health benefits. Promoting mental well-being may therefore offer an important complementary pathway to mitigate the long-term impacts of early adversity.
PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT
Looking beyond mental ill health, how adverse childhood experiences influence positive health and well-being over the course of adulthood remains unclear. The present findings suggest that, while exposure to adverse childhood experiences may increase classification of having lower well-being over the long term, those who do sustain positive well-being are at decreased risk for diverse negative health outcomes, with significant benefits apparent across far-reaching health and lifestyle domains.
Web | DOI | American Psychologist | Open Access