LIFE COURSE APPROACHES TO FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND HEALTH IN LATER LIFE: THE LONG-LASTING SHADOW OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA - Symposium

Sep 29, 2026

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Childhood trauma is linked to enduring effects on relationships, health, and well-being across adulthood. This symposium examines four studies using a life course framework to connect Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) with family dynamics and later-life functioning and health. Longitudinal evidence from MIDUS, Add Health, and WLS evaluates how ACEs shape late-adult cognitive outcomes through sibling relationships, influence day-to-day caregiving experiences, affect adult children’s support provision via the support bank model, and contribute to adult social isolation moderated by family support and strain. Trauma-informed, resilience-focused implications are emphasized.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Symposium Overview

Childhood Trauma, ACEs, and Later-Life Outcomes

Four Life Course Studies

Study 1: Sibling Relationships and Cognitive Functioning

Study 2: Daily Caregiving Experiences

Study 3: Support Bank Model and Instrumental/Financial Support

Study 4: Cumulative ACEs and Social Isolation

Implications for Trauma-Informed Approaches

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 615 SESSION 4520 (SYMPOSIUM) Abstract citation ID: igaf122.2106 LIFE COURSE APPROACHES TO FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND HEALTH IN LATER LIFE: THE LONG-LASTING SHADOW OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA Chair: Jooyoung Kong Co-Chair: Stephanie Robert Discussant: Karen Roberto Childhood trauma can have lasting effects on individuals’lives, influencing relationships, health, and well-being. This symposium presents four studies that explore the intersection of childhood trauma, as assessed by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), family dynamics, and later-life functioning and health through a life course framework. Drawing on longitudinal data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS), National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), and Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS), these studies examine how ACEs shape sibling relationships, intergenerational caregiving and support, and social isolation in adulthood. Study 1 investigates the impact of childhood sibling relationships and ACEson cognitive functioning in late adulthood, emphasizing the role of adult sibling closeness and contact. Study 2 examines the daily experiences of adult-child caregivers, exploring how ACEs influence daily caregiving outcomes and the role of family support and strain. Study 3, grounded in the support bank model, explores how ACEs may affect adult children’s provision offinancial or instrumental support when caregiving needs arise in aging parents. Study 4 investigates the association between cumulative ACEs and social isolation in adulthood, examining how family support and strain mitigate or exacerbate these effects. Together, these studies underscore the significance of family relationships across the life course, offering insights into how childhood trauma may influence later-life social functioning and health. This symposium contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between ACEs, family dynamics, and health, emphasizing the importance of trauma-informed approaches to promoting resilience and well-being across the life course.

FAQs

Which datasets are used across the four studies?

The studies draw on longitudinal data from Midlife in the United States (MIDUS), National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), and Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS).

How do the studies describe the role of family dynamics in later-life health?

Family support and strain are proposed to mitigate or exacerbate effects, including impacts on sibling-related contact, daily caregiving outcomes, support provision, and adult social isolation.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Eliana