Kindheitstraumata hinterlassen bleibende Spuren in biologischen Systemen. Untersuchungen zeigen, dass das Risiko für psychische und physische Gesundheitsprobleme im späteren Leben umso höher ist, je schlimmer die Kindheitserlebnisse einer Person sind.

>A study of 13-year-olds in Portugal found that children exposed to selected adverse experiences by 10 years of age tend to show increased allostatic burden in adolescence. Additional adverse experiences by age 13 further amplify this association. The paper was published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.

>Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood and can have lasting effects on health and well-being. They typically include experiences such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction before the age of 18. Examples include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, emotional or physical neglect, and exposure to domestic violence. They also include growing up in a household with substance abuse, mental illness, parental incarceration, or parental separation.

>Research shows that the more ACEs a person experiences, the higher their risk for mental and physical health problems later in life. High ACE exposure has been associated with depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and increased risk of chronic diseases.

>One key mechanism is chronic activation of the stress response, which can affect brain development and immune functioning. However, not everyone who experiences ACEs develops negative outcomes, because protective factors such as supportive relationships and stable environments can promote resilience.