Associations of childhood adversity with emotional well-being and educational achievement: A review and meta-analysis

Profound negative implications of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have raised public health concern worldwide. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined associations of three types of ACEs (abuse, neglect, and household dysfunctions) with experiential (emotional quality of momentary and everyday experiences) and reflective (judgments about life satisfaction, sense of meaning, and ability to pursue goals that can include and extend beyond the self) facets of emotional well-being (EWB) and educational achievement. The systematic review yielded 100 studies with 176 effect sizes that met criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. ACEs were related particularly strongly to lower EWB, r = −0.32, p < .001; [95 % CI: −0.44 to 0.01], but also to lower educational achievement, r = −0.18, p < .001; [95 % CI: −0.21 to −0.05]. Associations were stronger for abuse and composite indicators of ACEs than for household dysfunctions. Associations of ACEs with EWB and educational achievement were stronger in childhood and adolescence than in emerging or later adulthood. Associations did not differ for males and females or for Eastern versus Western cultural groups. Analyses provided evidence for the causal role of ACEs in the development of lower EWB and academic achievement as well as their reciprocal associations. There is no standard conceptualization of well-being and studies are not always clear about the types of ACEs examined, with limited research on educational achievement. Findings have important implications for mental health professionals, policy makers and social service agencies in developing resources and intervention services that target ACEs to protect individuals and promote well-being and academic achievement.