Stressful life experiences and mental health symptoms in adults with down syndrome

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a robust predictor of later mental health symptoms in the general population, and set individuals up for stressful life events in adulthood. There is a paucity of research on whether these associations are also observed in adults with Down syndrome. The current study examined the prevalence of ACEs and their association with later adult stressful life events and mental health symptoms in a cohort of adults with Down syndrome (n = 157).

A family member or caregiver who was familiar with the adult with Down syndrome's history and current functioning completed measures. Linear regressions were used to examine the relation between ACEs and significant life events in adulthood, anxiety, depression, and maladaptive behaviors, adjusting for age, sex, and level of intellectual disability. The moderation effect of ACEs on the association between significant life events and adult mental health outcomes was also tested.

Experiencing a higher number of ACEs was associated with experiencing a higher number of significant life events (β=0.27, p = .006), and higher anxiety (β = 0.24, p = .007) and maladaptive behavior (β = 0.33, p < .001) in adulthood. ACEs also moderated the relation between significant life events and depression (β =.32, SE =.07, t = 3.13, p = .002) in adulthood.

Adults with Down syndrome who experienced more (versus less) ACEs were more likely to experience significant life events in adulthood, such as hospitalizations, interpersonal conflict, and job transitions. Moreover, these events appear to take a greater toll on the mental health of adults with Down syndrome if they had a history of more ACEs.