Adverse childhood experiences, mental distress, and autoimmune disease in adult women: findings from two large cohort studies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with increased risks of autoimmune diseases. However, data are scarce on the role of specific ACEs as well as the potential mediating role of adverse mental health symptoms in this association.

Methods

A cohort study using the nationwide Icelandic Stress-And-Gene-Analysis (SAGA, 22,423 women) cohort and the UK Biobank (UKB, 86,492 women) was conducted. Participants self-reported on five ACEs. Twelve autoimmune diseases were self-reported in SAGA and identified via hospital records in UKB. Poisson regression was used to assess the cross-sectional association between ACEs and autoimmune diseases in both cohorts. Using longitudinal data on self-reported mental health symptoms in the UKB, we used causal mediati

SUBMITTER: Kohler-Forsberg O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12017369 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature