Association between Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) and long-term COVID-19 symptoms: evidence from the 2022 behavioral risk factor surveillance system
Abstract Objective This study investigated the association between Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) and long-term COVID-19 symptoms. Methods We used data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between long-term CO...
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2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23597-0 |
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| author | Safa Elkefi Alana Steffen Alicia K. Matthews |
| author_facet | Safa Elkefi Alana Steffen Alicia K. Matthews |
| author_sort | Safa Elkefi |
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| description | Abstract Objective This study investigated the association between Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) and long-term COVID-19 symptoms. Methods We used data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between long-term COVID symptoms and ACEs, adjusting for demographic characteristics (race/ethnicity, age, and sex). Survey weights were applied. Results Of the 14,560 participants, 46.73% experienced 1–3 ACEs, and 26.81% experienced 4 + ACEs—23.38% experienced long-term COVID-19 symptoms. Blacks (OR = 0.76, P =.002) and Asians (OR = 0.56, P =.009) were less likely than Whites to experience long-term COVID-19, but American Indians (OR = 1.72) were more likely. Adults aged 35–69 had a higher likelihood of long-term symptoms than younger adults (OR = 1.24), whereas those aged 70 or older did not differ from younger adults. Females were also more likely to experience them (OR = 1.61). Exposure to ACEs was positively associated with long-term COVID-19 symptoms. The more adverse events individuals were exposed to, the more risk of long-term COVID-19. Specifically, experience of household substance abuse (OR = 1.14, 95%, P =.008), physical abuse (OR = 1.18, 95%, P =.001), emotional abuse (OR = 1.13, 95%, P =.014), sexual abuse (OR = 1.43, 95%, P <.001), and household mental illness (OR = 1.35, 95%, P <.001) were positively associated with the long-term COVID-19 experience. Conclusions Study findings contribute to the extensive literature demonstrating the negative health consequences of childhood adversities. More adverse events resulted in more risk to experience long term COVID-19 symptoms. Additional research is needed to better understand and intervene in the biological vulnerabilities associated with childhood adversities. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-0ea396d89dde4c3e8fa8d14c61e8e4e02025-08-20T03:46:23ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-0125111110.1186/s12889-025-23597-0Association between Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) and long-term COVID-19 symptoms: evidence from the 2022 behavioral risk factor surveillance systemSafa Elkefi0Alana Steffen1Alicia K. Matthews2School of Nursing, Columbia UniversitySchool of Nursing, University of Illinois ChicagoSchool of Nursing, Columbia UniversityAbstract Objective This study investigated the association between Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) and long-term COVID-19 symptoms. Methods We used data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between long-term COVID symptoms and ACEs, adjusting for demographic characteristics (race/ethnicity, age, and sex). Survey weights were applied. Results Of the 14,560 participants, 46.73% experienced 1–3 ACEs, and 26.81% experienced 4 + ACEs—23.38% experienced long-term COVID-19 symptoms. Blacks (OR = 0.76, P =.002) and Asians (OR = 0.56, P =.009) were less likely than Whites to experience long-term COVID-19, but American Indians (OR = 1.72) were more likely. Adults aged 35–69 had a higher likelihood of long-term symptoms than younger adults (OR = 1.24), whereas those aged 70 or older did not differ from younger adults. Females were also more likely to experience them (OR = 1.61). Exposure to ACEs was positively associated with long-term COVID-19 symptoms. The more adverse events individuals were exposed to, the more risk of long-term COVID-19. Specifically, experience of household substance abuse (OR = 1.14, 95%, P =.008), physical abuse (OR = 1.18, 95%, P =.001), emotional abuse (OR = 1.13, 95%, P =.014), sexual abuse (OR = 1.43, 95%, P <.001), and household mental illness (OR = 1.35, 95%, P <.001) were positively associated with the long-term COVID-19 experience. Conclusions Study findings contribute to the extensive literature demonstrating the negative health consequences of childhood adversities. More adverse events resulted in more risk to experience long term COVID-19 symptoms. Additional research is needed to better understand and intervene in the biological vulnerabilities associated with childhood adversities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23597-0Adverse childhood experiencesChildhood maltreatmentHealth effectsTraumaViolence prevention |
| spellingShingle | Safa Elkefi Alana Steffen Alicia K. Matthews Association between Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) and long-term COVID-19 symptoms: evidence from the 2022 behavioral risk factor surveillance system BMC Public Health Adverse childhood experiences Childhood maltreatment Health effects Trauma Violence prevention |
| title | Association between Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) and long-term COVID-19 symptoms: evidence from the 2022 behavioral risk factor surveillance system |
| title_full | Association between Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) and long-term COVID-19 symptoms: evidence from the 2022 behavioral risk factor surveillance system |
| title_fullStr | Association between Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) and long-term COVID-19 symptoms: evidence from the 2022 behavioral risk factor surveillance system |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) and long-term COVID-19 symptoms: evidence from the 2022 behavioral risk factor surveillance system |
| title_short | Association between Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) and long-term COVID-19 symptoms: evidence from the 2022 behavioral risk factor surveillance system |
| title_sort | association between adverse childhood events aces and long term covid 19 symptoms evidence from the 2022 behavioral risk factor surveillance system |
| topic | Adverse childhood experiences Childhood maltreatment Health effects Trauma Violence prevention |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23597-0 |
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