Home > Associations and mediating factors between adverse childhood experiences and substance use behaviours in early adulthood: a population-based longitudinal study.

Mongan, Deirdre ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3616-4253, Millar, Seán ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4453-8446, Brennan, Margaret, Doyle, Anne ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2776-3476, Galvin, Brian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5639-1819 and McCarthy, Noel (2025) Associations and mediating factors between adverse childhood experiences and substance use behaviours in early adulthood: a population-based longitudinal study. Addictive Behaviors, 161, 108194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108194.

External website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/...


Background: Research has demonstrated positive associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and substance use behaviours in young adults. However, many of these are based on cross-sectional data. The pathway between ACEs and substance misuse among emerging adults is also not fully understood and few studies have investigated potential mediating factors.

Methods: We analysed data from the Child Cohort of the Growing Up in Ireland study, a nationally representative longitudinal sample of children recruited at 9 years of age (n = 4,729). Logistic regression was used to examine individual and cumulative ACE exposure relationships with substance use at age 20 years. Mediation analyses were used to assess whether parental and peer relationships and school engagement mediate ACE history associations with substance use behaviours.

Results: ACE exposure relationships with current cannabis use, other illicit drug use and problematic drug use were observed. In particular, young adults who had experienced 2 ACEs or 3 + ACEs had an approximate two-fold (OR=1.80, 95 % CI: 1.29, 2.51) and approximate three-fold (OR=2.94, 95 % CI: 2.06, 4.19) increased odds of problematic drug use, respectively, when compared to participants who had experienced no ACEs during the study period. Mediation analyses suggested that parent and peer attachment and liking school partially mediate relationships between ACEs and substance use behaviours.

Conclusions: Children who have experienced ACEs are at higher risk of future substance use and problematic drug use. In supporting these children, identified mediators such as interpersonal relationships and school engagement may help guide selection of prevention interventions.

Item Type
Article
Publication Type
Irish-related, Open Access, Article
Drug Type
Alcohol, All substances
Intervention Type
Harm reduction
Date
2025
Identification #
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108194
Publisher
Elsevier Science
Volume
161
EndNote

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