The Moderating Role of Adversity Duration on Adverse Childhood Experiences, Social Support, and Mental Health
Abstract
Cumulative adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to diagnoses of anxiety and depression in adulthood. However, less attention has been paid to the role of individual difference measures of adversity such as duration. In this study we specifically explored whether duration of adversity might moderate previously identified associations between cumulative adversity in childhood and anxiety and depression symptomatology in adulthood. Participants (N = 230) completed an anonymous online survey. ACEs were measured via a modified Health-Resiliency-Stress Questionnaire (Wiet et al., 2019), which included duration measures for 9 of the 19 items. Perceived social support was measured with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder screener and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, respectively. Consistent with the extant literature, correlational analyses revealed that cumulative ACE scores were positively associated with anxiety (r = .19, p < .01) and depression (r = .18, p < .01) and negatively with social support (r = -.16, p < .05). Further analyses confirmed that social support mediated the link between ACEs and both anxiety (b = .09, 95% CI [.007, .084]) and depression (b = .20, 95% CI [.046, .370]), reinforcing prior findings that social support serves as a protective factor against adversity. Finally, moderation analyses indicated that duration of adversity moderated the indirect effect of social support on depression (b = .23, 95% CI [.017, .535]), with the protective effect of social support being stronger for individuals with shorter adversity durations. No corresponding moderation effects were found for anxiety. These results suggest that while social support may mitigate the mental health impact of ACEs, its buffering role is weakened in individuals with prolonged adversity exposure. Findings highlight the need for more research and interventions that acknowledge individual differences in adversity exposure, especially duration.
Start Time
16-4-2025 1:30 PM
End Time
16-4-2025 4:00 PM
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Category
Social Sciences
Student Type
Graduate Student - Masters
Faculty Mentor
Wallace Dixon
Faculty Department
Psychology
The Moderating Role of Adversity Duration on Adverse Childhood Experiences, Social Support, and Mental Health
Cumulative adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to diagnoses of anxiety and depression in adulthood. However, less attention has been paid to the role of individual difference measures of adversity such as duration. In this study we specifically explored whether duration of adversity might moderate previously identified associations between cumulative adversity in childhood and anxiety and depression symptomatology in adulthood. Participants (N = 230) completed an anonymous online survey. ACEs were measured via a modified Health-Resiliency-Stress Questionnaire (Wiet et al., 2019), which included duration measures for 9 of the 19 items. Perceived social support was measured with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder screener and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, respectively. Consistent with the extant literature, correlational analyses revealed that cumulative ACE scores were positively associated with anxiety (r = .19, p < .01) and depression (r = .18, p < .01) and negatively with social support (r = -.16, p < .05). Further analyses confirmed that social support mediated the link between ACEs and both anxiety (b = .09, 95% CI [.007, .084]) and depression (b = .20, 95% CI [.046, .370]), reinforcing prior findings that social support serves as a protective factor against adversity. Finally, moderation analyses indicated that duration of adversity moderated the indirect effect of social support on depression (b = .23, 95% CI [.017, .535]), with the protective effect of social support being stronger for individuals with shorter adversity durations. No corresponding moderation effects were found for anxiety. These results suggest that while social support may mitigate the mental health impact of ACEs, its buffering role is weakened in individuals with prolonged adversity exposure. Findings highlight the need for more research and interventions that acknowledge individual differences in adversity exposure, especially duration.