Distinct ACEs clusters were associated with differences in health and HRQoL among Australian children and adolescents, with high-adversity children showing higher risk of poorer mental health (IRR=1.89) and suboptimal general health (OR=1.19) compared to low-adversity children.
Three distinct ACEs clusters were identified in Australian children: low adversity, moderate adversity, and high adversity.
Children in the high-adversity cluster had a significantly higher risk of poorer mental health compared to those in the low-adversity cluster.
Children in the high-adversity cluster had a significantly higher risk of suboptimal general health compared to those in the low-adversity cluster.
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores across multiple domains were consistently lower among children exposed to higher adversity.
Moderate adversity was associated with elevated health risks, but of smaller magnitude than high adversity.
The study sample consisted of 3,089 participants from the kindergarten cohort of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children contributing 18,534 observations.
This research suggests that Australian children and adolescents can be grouped into three distinct categories based on their exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): low adversity (about two-thirds of children), moderate adversity (about one-quarter), and high adversity (roughly 1 in 11 children). Using data from nearly 3,100 children tracked over time through a large national study, researchers found that children who experienced more adversity consistently had worse health outcomes. Specifically, children in the high-adversity group were nearly twice as likely to have poor mental health and about 19% more likely to have suboptimal general health compared to children with low adversity. Children with moderate adversity also showed elevated risks, though not as severe. Beyond physical and mental health, the quality of life of higher-adversity children was measurably lower across five domains: social wellbeing, school functioning, emotional wellbeing, physical health, and overall psychosocial wellbeing. These patterns held consistently across the multiple time points measured, reinforcing that the effects of childhood adversity are not temporary but persist over time. This research suggests that identifying which cluster of adversity a child belongs to could help tailor prevention and support programs more effectively, rather than applying one-size-fits-all approaches. Targeting children in moderate and high adversity groups early may help reduce long-term health and wellbeing consequences.
Gautam N, Rahman M, Khanam R. (2026). Childhood adversity and trajectories of health and quality of life in Australian children and adolescents: a latent class analysis.. Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-026-04283-z