Longitudinal patterns of threat- and deprivation-based childhood adversity and their impact on adolescent drinking, smoking, and depression.

purposeEmerging neuroimaging and biopsychological evidence suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may have distinct effects on youth development depending on their type, timing, and duration. However, much of the existing research has emphasized cumulative exposure, often overlooking the unique characteristics of these experiences. The present study, therefore, aimed to (1) identify heterogeneous patterns of ACEs by accounting for both type and timing, and (2) examine the differential effects of these patterns on youth substance use and depression.

methodsWe used longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) collected when youth were aged 3, 5, and 9 years. Longitudinal patterns of exposure to threat and deprivation were examined using parallel growth mixture modeling.

resultsWe identified four latent classes: (1) high-decreasing deprivation and high-decreasing threat; (2) low-stable deprivation and low-decreasing threat (minimal exposure group); (3) moderate-increasing deprivation and high-decreasing threat; and (4) low-stable deprivation and moderate-decreasing threat. Compared with class 2, youth in class 1, the group with the highest exposure had significantly higher risks of smoking, drinking, and depression at age 15. DISCUSSION: Youth outcomes are shaped not only by the cumulative severity of adversity but also by the types and timing of adversity across development. Findings from this study highlight that interventions may need to be tailored not only to the overall level of adversity a child experiences but also to the specific types and developmental timing of exposures.