Adverse Childhood Events Significantly Impact Depression and Mental Distress in Adults with a History of Cancer
Recommended Citation
Babatunde OA, Gonzalez K, Osazuwa-Peters N, Adams SA, Hughes Halbert C, Clark F, Nagar A, Obeysekare J, and Adjei Boakye E. Adverse Childhood Events Significantly Impact Depression and Mental Distress in Adults with a History of Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16(19).
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-27-2024
Publication Title
Cancers (Basel)
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to a heightened risk of depression. We explored the relationship between ACEs and both depression and mental distress among cancer survivors.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional analysis using the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System database of cancer survivors aged ≥18 (n = 14,132). The primary outcome was self-reported history of depression, and the secondary outcome was mental distress. The exposure variable was the number of ACEs, classified as 0, 1-2, and ≥3. Weighted multivariable logistic regression models assessed the association between the number of ACEs and depression and mental distress while adjusting for covariates.
RESULTS: Approximately 22% of respondents reported experiencing ≥3 ACEs. The prevalence of depression was 21.8%, and mental distress was 15.4%. Compared with cancer survivors who had experienced 0 ACEs, those who had experienced ≥3 (aOR = 3.94; 95% CI, 3.04-5.10) or 1-2 (aOR = 1.85; 95% CI, 1.47-2.32) ACEs had a higher likelihood of reporting depression. Compared with cancer survivors who had experienced 0 ACEs, those who had experienced ≥3 (aOR = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.48-0.93) had a lower likelihood of reporting mental distress.
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the impact of ACEs on depression in adulthood among cancer survivors.
PubMed ID
39409912
Volume
16
Issue
19
