Adverse Childhood Experiences are Associated with Development of Psychological Resilience among Older Adults

Sep 28, 2026

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Study examining how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) shape long-term psychological resilience (PR) trajectories in older adults. Using data from 9,069 participants aged 65+ from 2006–2020 in the Health and Retirement Study, group-based trajectory modeling identified three PR trajectory patterns. Multinomial logistic regression evaluated four ACE items, controlling for demographics. Results showed stable, sharp-decline, and gradual-decline trajectories, with physical abuse and parental substance abuse linked to reduced resilience over time.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

1214 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 likelihood of maintaining a stable trajectory on PR. Conclusion: These findings suggest that early adverse experiences may influence trajectories of psychological resilience well into old age. The results underscore the importance of adopting trauma-informed approaches in resilience-based intervention, emphasizing early identification and intervention for individuals with histories of childhood maltreatment. Abstract citation ID: igaf122.4062 ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES ARE ASSOCI ATED WITH DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE AMONG OLDER ADULTS Chenguang Du1, Laura Sands2, Yan Yuan1, Yuewen Zhang1, Caiwen Li1, and Benjamin Katz2, 1. Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China (People’s Republic), 2. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States Background: A growing body of research suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACE; e.g. physical abuse) are associated with mental and physical health in young and middle adulthood. However, less is known about how ACEs are linked to psychological resilience in older adults. This study explored the long-term impact of childhood adversity on psychological resilience (PR) trajectories among older adults, drawing on the framework of Cumulative Advantage and Disadvantage (CAD) theory. Method: Data include 9,069 respondents aged 65 and above from 2006 to 2020 of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We first employed the group-based trajectory modeling to classify heterogeneity in PR’s development over time. Next, a multinomial logistic regression was conducted using four different ACE items including: school retention, physical abuse, parental substance abuse, and trouble with police as the main predictors, with covariates (e.g. age, gender, marital status, and education) controlled in the model. Result: The analyses revealed 3 distinct trajectory groups: one group with stable resilience, and two groups with either “sharp” decline or “gradual” decline. In addition, after adjusting for covariates, we found that of the four ACE items, only experiences of physical abuse and parental substance abuse were significantly associated with the reduced

FAQs

What is the study’s main objective?

To test whether adverse childhood experiences are associated with the development of psychological resilience trajectories among older adults over the long term.

How was psychological resilience measured and analyzed?

The study used group-based trajectory modeling to classify heterogeneity in PR development across time, followed by multinomial logistic regression to test ACE predictors.

Which ACE factors showed significant associations with resilience?

After adjusting for covariates, experiences of physical abuse and parental substance abuse were significantly associated with reduced psychological resilience.

What do the findings imply for interventions?

They support trauma-informed approaches that emphasize early identification and intervention for individuals with histories of childhood maltreatment.

Sep 28, 2026

Upload by Stanley