Caregiver and Child Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Meta-Analysis

Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is associated with adverse impacts on subsequent generations. The extent to which caregiver ACEs are associated with their child's ACE score is unclear.

To meta-analytically examine the association between caregiver and child ACE score. Potential moderators of this association were explored.

Systematic searches were conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINHAL from 1998, the year the ACEs questionnaire was published, to February 19, 2024.

Inclusion criteria were that the ACEs questionnaire was completed for both caregiver and child, an effect size was available, and the study was published in English.

Variables extracted included sample size and magnitude of association between caregiver ACEs and child ACEs, mean caregiver and child age, sex (% female), race and ethnicity, and informant of ACEs.

Seventeen samples (4872 caregiver-child dyads) met inclusion criterion. Results revealed a large pooled-effect size between caregiver and child ACEs (r = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.25-0.41; P < .001), such that higher caregiver ACEs score was associated with higher child ACEs score. This association was stronger among studies with younger caregivers and studies that utilized caregiver-report compared with child self-report of ACEs.

Many studies were conducted in North America with female caregiver samples, limiting generalizability beyond these populations.

Caregiver ACEs were strongly associated with child ACEs. Prevention and intervention efforts for caregivers should be trauma informed and focused on bolstering protective factors that may break cycles of intergenerational risk.