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Relationship between adverse childhood experiences and unemployment among adults from five US states

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Our study assesses the relationships between self-reported adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) (including sexual, physical, or verbal abuse, along with household dysfunction including parental separation or divorce, domestic violence, mental illness, substance abuse, or incarcerated household member) and unemployment status in five US states in 2009.

Methods

We examined these relationships using the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey data from 17,469 respondents (aged 18–64 years) who resided in five states, completed the ACE Questionnaire, and provided socio-demographic and social support information. We also assessed the mediation of these relationships by respondents’ educational attainment, marital status, and social support.

Results

About two-third of respondents reported having had at least one ACEs, while 15.1 % of men and 19.3 % of women reported having had ≥4 ACEs. Among both men and women, the unemployment rate in 2009 was significantly higher among those who reported having had any ACE than among those who reported no ACEs (p < 0.05). Educational attainment, marital status, and social support mediated the relationship between ACEs and unemployment, particularly among women.

Conclusions

ACEs appear to be associated with increased risk for unemployment among men and women. Further studies may be needed to better understand how education, marital status, and social support mediate the association between multiple ACEs and unemployment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to all respondents who answered the questionnaire and staff in the department of health from the five states and in CDC who compiled the data. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mail-Stop K-67, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA

    Yong Liu, Janet B. Croft, Daniel P. Chapman, Geraldine S. Perry, Kurt J. Greenlund & Valerie J. Edwards

  2. Division of Behavioral Surveillance, Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2500 Century Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30345, USA

    Guixiang Zhao

Authors
  1. Yong Liu
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  2. Janet B. Croft
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  3. Daniel P. Chapman
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  4. Geraldine S. Perry
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  5. Kurt J. Greenlund
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  6. Guixiang Zhao
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  7. Valerie J. Edwards
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Correspondence to Yong Liu.

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Liu, Y., Croft, J.B., Chapman, D.P. et al. Relationship between adverse childhood experiences and unemployment among adults from five US states. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 48, 357–369 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0554-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0554-1

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