Parental adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and offspring health and wellbeing: A scoping review

Authors:
  • BLBrian Lo
    Brian Lo
  • SEScott D. Easton
    Scott D. Easton
  • MPMaria Pineros-Leano
    Maria Pineros-Leano
  • KDKirsten K. Davison
    Kirsten K. Davison

Abstract
Context: Evolving research has emphasized the lasting health consequences of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) across generations. Objective: To summarize the current knowledge base of the intergenerational consequences of parental ACEs on offspring health outcomes, clarify the individual influence of paternal ACEs, identify pathways of transmission, and understand how ACEs are operationalized in the intergenerational literature. Data Sources: Six electronic databases were searched for articles published between 1995 and 2022. Study Selection: Primary research articles relating to the effects of parental ACEs on offspring physical and mental health outcomes that operationalized ACEs using a minimum of one indicator from the abuse and household dysfunction domains.Data Extraction: Data on article demographics, participant characteristics (i.e., parental race/ethnicity), characteristics of ACE measures (i.e., inclusion of expanded ACEs), methodologies (i.e., offspring outcomes measured), and findings were extracted from each article. Results: The search yielded 14,542 unique articles. After title, abstract, full-text, and reference review, 47 articles met inclusion criteria. Thirty-five articles focused exclusively on mothers, one solely on fathers, and 11 included both mothers and fathers in their analyses. Twenty-seven studies used the Original ACE Questionnaire and six studies used an expanded definition of ACEs.Limitations: Search terms did not include an exhaustive list of all offspring outcomes and no qualitative/mixed-methods studies were identified. Conclusion: The negative effects of parental ACEs on offspring physical and mental health outcomes are transmitted across generations. Findings underscore the importance and oversight of fathers and need to solidify a unified definition and measure of expanded ACEs.