Abstract

Studies conducted on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have shown that childhood adversity is relatively common, likely to co-occur, and have dose-dependent relationships with mental and physical health in adulthood. People with a history of ACEs are likely to experience dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to increased inflammation production, greater stress reactivity, and decreased serotonin production. This longitudinal study explored the role depression and perceived stress have in the relationship between ACEs and inflammation while controlling for demographic characteristics (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity, education, difficulty meeting expenses). The study sample included 288 (61% female, 66% white, Mage = 68, SD = 11.2) individuals who completed the Adventist Health Study-2 (AHS-2), the Biopsychosocial Religion and Health Study (BRHS), and provided fasting blood and overnight urine samples. Increased inflammation in older adulthood was predicted by ACEs and this relationship was moderated by increased depressive symptoms and stress reactivity over 3 to 5 years. These findings indicate that stress reactivity and depression are related to inflammatory biomarkers after ACEs exposure and that the effects last into mid to late life.

LLU Discipline

Clinical Psychology

Department

Clinical Psychology

School

School of Behavioral Health

First Advisor

Kelly R. Morton

Second Advisor

Kelly R. Morton

Third Advisor

Jerry W. Lee

Fourth Advisor

David Vermeersch

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2022

Date (Title Page)

9-2021

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Adverse Childhood Experiences; Stress (Psychology); Depression; Inflammation; Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal System

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

xii, 69 p.

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

Download

Share

COinS