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. 2013 Mar;48(3):357-69.
doi: 10.1007/s00127-012-0554-1. Epub 2012 Aug 7.

Relationship between adverse childhood experiences and unemployment among adults from five U.S. states

Yong Liu  1 , Janet B Croft, Daniel P Chapman, Geraldine S Perry, Kurt J Greenlund, Guixiang Zhao, Valerie J Edwards
Affiliations

Relationship between adverse childhood experiences and unemployment among adults from five U.S. states

Yong Liu et al. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2013 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: Our study assesses the relationships between self-reported adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) (including sexual, physical, or verbal abuse, along with household dysfunction including parental separation or divorce, domestic violence, mental illness, substance abuse, or incarcerated household member) and unemployment status in five US states in 2009.

Methods: We examined these relationships using the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor surveillance system survey data from 17,469 respondents (aged 18-64 years) who resided in five states, completed the ACE Questionnaire, and provided socio-demographic and social support information. We also assessed the mediation of these relationships by respondents' educational attainment, marital status, and social support.

Results: About two-third of respondents reported having had at least one ACEs, while 15.1% of men and 19.3% of women reported having had ≥4 ACEs. Among both men and women, the unemployment rate in 2009 was significantly higher among those who reported having had any ACE than among those who reported no ACEs (p < 0.05). Educational attainment, marital status, and social support mediated the relationship between ACEs and unemployment, particularly among women.

Conclusions: ACEs appear to be associated with increased risk for unemployment among men and women. Further studies may be needed to better understand how education, marital status, and social support mediate the association between multiple ACEs and unemployment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. The distribution of employment categories by ACE score among respondents aged 18–64 years, 2009 BRFSS data from Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Washington
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Unemployment rates by self-reported history of ACEs among men (a) and women (b) aged 18–64 years, 2009 BRFSS data from Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Washington. *p < 0.05. **Odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) obtained from multivariate logistic regression analysis with adjustments for age and race/ ethnicity
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Unemployment rates by ACE score and odds ratios for unemployment risk by ACE score among men and women aged 18–64 years, 2009 BRFSS data from Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Washington. *p < 0.05. **Odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) obtained from multivariate logistic regression analysis with adjustments for age and race/ethnicity
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