Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adult Disease: Examining Mediating Pathways in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study

Objectives: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to adulthood chronic diseases, but there is little research examining the mechanisms underlying this association. We tested pathways from ACEs to adult disease mediated via risk factors of depression, smoking, and body mass index. Method: Prospective data from adults 18 to 74 years old from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos and Sociocultural Ancillary Study were used. Retrospectively reported ACEs and hypothesized mediators were measured at Visit 1 (2008-2011). Outcomes of disease prevalence were assessed at Visit 2, approximately 6 years later. The analytic sample includes 5,230 Hispanic/Latino participants with ACE data. Statistical mediation was examined using structural equation modeling on cardiometabolic and pulmonary disease prevalence and reported probit regression coefficients with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: We found a significant association between ACEs and the prevalence of asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (standardized beta = .07, 95% CI [0.02, 0.12]). In the mediational model, the direct association was nonsignificant (beta = .02, 95% CI [-0.04, 0.07]) but was mediated by depressive symptoms (beta = .03, 95% CI [0.02, 0.04]). There were no associations between ACEs and the prevalence of diabetes and self-reported coronary heart disease or cerebrovascular disease. However, a small indirect effect was identified via depressive symptoms and coronary heart disease (beta = .02, 95% CI [0.01, 0.03]). Conclusion: In this diverse Hispanic/Latino sample, depressive symptoms were found to be a pathway linking ACEs to self-reported cardiopulmonary diseases, although the effects were of small magnitude. Future work should replicate pathways, confirm the magnitude of effects, and examine cultural moderators that may dampen expected associations.