Science Update: Childhood adversity linked to higher risk of premature death from suicide and substance use in adulthood, NIH study finds | NOT

According to a study of nearly 50,000 people conducted by researchers at the NIH, people who experienced high levels of adversity in childhood were more likely to die by suicide or substance use in middle adulthood compared to those who experienced low levels of adversity in childhood Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).

The proportion of deaths varied depending on the type and combination of adversities experienced. For example, people who experienced family instability—including two or more changes in parental marital status or frequent changes in residence or foster care—were 50 percent more likely to die by suicide and 50 percent more likely to die by substance use . Likewise, those who experienced a combination of poverty and parental separation were 85 percent more likely to die as a result of substance use.

background

Researchers have theorized that adverse childhood experiences affect brain and behavioral development. These experiences could increase the risk of mental health problems and risk behaviors later in life. Although previous studies have linked childhood adversity to substance use and suicidal behavior, less has examined whether these behaviors are also associated with a higher risk of death in adulthood.

Results

For the current study, researchers examined the possible links between types and combinations of childhood adversities and adult deaths from suicide and substance use. They analyzed data from a previous study of 48,197 pregnant women admitted between 1959 and 1966 at 12 sites in the United States. The study collected data on their offspring up to the age of eight. The researchers obtained death certificates of adult offspring from the National Death Index of those who died before 2016.

Of the 45,207 participants in the original study, 267 died by suicide and 338 by substance use – deaths caused by alcohol, prescription drugs or illicit drugs.

In addition to the higher risks observed with family instability and the combination of poverty and parental separation, those who experienced parental harshness (verbal or physical aggression) and neglect were 57 percent more likely to die by suicide higher. They were also 83 percent more likely to die from substance use. Those who suffered from poverty and overcrowded housing had a 38 percent higher risk of dying by suicide and a 32 percent higher risk of dying from drug use.

Meaning

“In our study, several forms of childhood adversity were associated with self-harm-related deaths in adults,” said senior author Stephen E. Gilman, Sc.D., chief of the NICHD Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences. “While premature death was a rare outcome in the study, it was very unfortunate to find a higher risk of preventable death in participants with a history of childhood adversity. If we could better understand how these forms of adversity affect adult health, we could develop ways to prevent these consequences.”

reference

Govender, T, et al. Adverse childhood experiences and risk of suicide and substance-related mortality through middle adulthood. Journal of Affective Disorders (2024).

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About the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): NICHD leads research and training to understand human development, improve reproductive health, improve the lives of children and youth, and optimize the capabilities of all. For more information, visit https://www.nichd.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 institutes and centers and is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the principal federal agency that conducts and supports basic, clinical, and translational medical research and investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for common and rare diseases. For more information about the NIH and its programs, see