Disparities in Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Individuals With a History of Military Service

Abstract

Previous research about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) clarifies the serious public health ramifications of early-life stressors, such as divorce, household substance abuse, and sexual abuse, on future health and wellness as children transition into adolescence and adulthood.^1,2 Examples of such adulthood health consequences include posttraumatic stress disorder,³ substance use,^4-6 attempted suicide,^7-10 physical health conditions (such as lung cancer¹¹ and liver disease¹²), and decreased life expectancy by up to 20 years.¹³ Persons with a history of military service may be a specific subpopulation of interest regarding ACEs because some may enlist to escape personal problems, such as household dysfunction or abuse,^14-16 thereby potentially elevating the prevalence of ACEs among military populations. Perhaps more important, military service may expose persons with a history of trauma to additional trauma (eg, combat and military sexual trauma), which may additively elevate risks of poor mental health and suicide.^17-19 However, the prevalence of childhood adversity among US military and veteran populations is largely unknown.