Impact of parental adverse childhood experiences on children's healthcare utilisation: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to poor health and social outcomes, with growing interest in their intergenerational effects. Socioeconomic context strongly shapes both exposure to ACEs and their transmission across generations, yet is often under-represented in research. While many studies have explored how ACEs affect adult health, the impact of parental ACEs on children's healthcare utilisation has not yet been systematically reviewed.

Methods

We systematically reviewed studies examining associations between parental ACEs or related adversity and children's use of preventive, primary or secondary healthcare. We searched PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO databases up to December 2024. Title and abstract screening were conducted using an AI-assisted scr

SUBMITTER: Ketelaars MFM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12911568 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature