Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Centre for Clinical Research in Sormland, Uppsala University, Eskilstuna, Sweden.
PLoS One. 2021 Jan 20;16(1):e0244696. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244696. eCollection 2021.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are common and known to have consequences for individuals' adult health, leading to a higher risk of illness. The aims of the study were to investigate the ACEs in couples, to examine the extent of assortative mating and to investigate the association between the relationship of the load of ACEs within couples and health outcomes, one year after the birth of a common child. At antenatal clinics in Sweden 818 couples were recruited and investigated one year after the birth of a common child answering a questionnaire including the exposure to ten ACE categories and several outcome variables. In total, 59% of both mothers and partners reported exposure to at least one of the ten ACE categories. Among the mothers 11% and among the partners 9% reported exposure to ≥4 ACE categories (p = 0.12). There was a correlation between the numbers of ACE categories reported by the mothers and their partners (Spearman's ρ = 0.18, p<0.001). This association pertained to six of the ten ACE categories. In multiple logistic regression analyses, there were associations between the ACE exposure load and unfavourable outcomes among the mothers, the partners and within the couples. Unfavourable outcomes concerning health were most prominent in couples where both members reported exposures to ≥4 ACE categories (self-rated bad health (OR 13.82; CI 2.75-69.49), anxiety (OR 91.97; CI 13.38-632.07), depression (OR 17.42; CI 2.14-141.78) and perceived stress (OR 11.04; CI 2.79-43.73)). Mothers exposed to ACEs tend to have partners also exposed to ACEs. Exposure to ACEs was associated with bad health and unfavourable life conditions within the couples, especially among couples where both members reported exposure to multiple ACEs. These results should stimulate incentives to find, to support and to treat individuals and couples where both members report multiple ACEs. The consequences for the children should be further studied as well as how these families should be treated in health care and society.
不良的童年经历（ACEs）很常见，已知会对个人的成年健康产生影响，导致更高的患病风险。本研究的目的是调查夫妻中的 ACEs，研究同质性婚配的程度，并研究夫妻中 ACEs 负担与健康结果之间的关系，这是在共同孩子出生一年后进行的。在瑞典的产前诊所，招募了 818 对夫妇，在共同孩子出生一年后，他们通过回答包括暴露于 10 个 ACE 类别和几个结果变量的问卷进行了调查。在母亲和伴侣中，总共有 59%报告至少暴露于 10 个 ACE 类别之一。在母亲中，有 11%，在伴侣中，有 9%报告暴露于≥4 个 ACE 类别（p = 0.12）。母亲和伴侣报告的 ACE 类别数量之间存在相关性（Spearman's ρ = 0.18，p<0.001）。这种关联适用于 10 个 ACE 类别中的 6 个。在多元逻辑回归分析中，母亲、伴侣和夫妻中 ACE 暴露量与不良结局之间存在关联。在夫妻双方都报告暴露于≥4 个 ACE 类别的情况下，健康不良（自我评定的健康状况较差（OR 13.82；CI 2.75-69.49）、焦虑（OR 91.97；CI 13.38-632.07）、抑郁（OR 17.42；CI 2.14-141.78）和感知压力（OR 11.04；CI 2.79-43.73））的不良结局最为突出。暴露于 ACEs 的母亲往往有同样暴露于 ACEs 的伴侣。暴露于 ACEs 与夫妻中不良健康和不利生活条件有关，尤其是在夫妻双方都报告暴露于多个 ACEs 的情况下。这些结果应该激励人们寻找、支持和治疗那些双方都报告有多个 ACEs 的个体和夫妻。还应该进一步研究这些家庭的孩子所面临的后果，以及如何在医疗保健和社会中对待这些家庭。
