Linking Adverse Childhood Experiences to Socioeconomic Outcomes: Racial and Ethnic Differences in a Representative U.S. Sample

Abstract Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been reliably linked to poor adult health outcomes; less is known about their impact on socioeconomic outcomes. This study examines relationships between ACEs and socioeconomic outcomes in mid-adulthood, and whether these associations are moderated by race/ethnicity. Methods Five waves of data were drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). Multivariate regression analyses were applied to examine main-effect associations between ACEs and socioeconomic outcomes along with the moderating effects of race/ethnicity. Results Controlling for household economic status in childhood, higher ACE scores were significantly associated with lower levels of educational attainment and income, higher rates of unemployment, and greater financial instability. The association between ACEs and financial instability was stronger for White participants than Black participants, while associations between ACEs and educational attainment, income, and unemployment were stronger for White participants than their Asian American counterparts. Conclusions ACEs appear to undermine not only health but also educational and economic attainments, underscoring the need for ACE prevention and intervention strategies. Yet, the moderation results raise questions about the extent to which targeting these strategies along racial/ethnic lines will redress socioeconomic disparities in the U.S.