Interpreting evidence on the association between multiple adverse childhood experiences and mental and physical health outcomes in adulthood: protocol for a systematic review assessing causality.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Research suggests that adverse childhood experiences can have a lasting influence on children's development that result in poorer health outcomes in adulthood. Like other exposure-outcome relationships, however, there is uncertainty about the extent to which the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and health is causal or attributable to other factors. The aim of this systematic review is to better understand the nature and extent of the evidence available to infer a causal relationship between adverse childhood experiences and health outcomes in adulthood.

Methods and analysis

A systematic review of evidence from cross-sectional and longitudinal studies will be conducted to examine the association between multiple adverse childhood experiences and

SUBMITTER: Jones L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11931931 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature