Understanding adverse childhood experiences: the role and impact on subsequent psychosocial outcomes during childhood ? a longitudinal study.

The overall idea of this project is to understand children’s psychological, social, and emotional development from birth to adolescence, through the continuous interaction and integration of their exposure and experiences with the social, environmental, and cultural factors and challenges surrounding them at home and school. The main exposures of interest are adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), e.g., parental mental health, parental separation, parental alcohol over-consumption, and being bullied.
Adverse childhood experiences, which usually refer to household dysfunctions and child maltreatment, have been associated with a higher risk of health and behavioural challenges in adulthood, including mental illnesses and substance misuse, and possibly shorter life expectancy. Psychological, behavioural, and educational factors are influential health determinants. Understanding the long-term psychosocial links between children’s immediate environment at home and school and their psychological, behavioural, and school engagement (e.g., attendance) will facilitate recognising the effects of ACEs on children, and the possible processes and effects over the life course. More importantly, understanding the timing and areas for effective early interventions informs when and where possible to alter or break the chain of detrimental consequences of ACEs.