Study links adverse childhood experiences to higher risk of homelessness

The study, led by Edson Chipalo, PhD, assistant professor in UC’s College of Allied Health Sciences, was recently published in the journal Child Indicators Research. Drawing on data from the National Survey of Children’s Health, the research adds to a growing body of evidence that childhood trauma can have long-lasting harmful consequences, particularly for children living in settings with limited resources.

Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are potentially traumatic events that occur before a child turns 18 years old. These can include exposure to violence, abuse, neglect, discrimination, household dysfunction and other serious psychosocial stressors. Previous research has shown that such events are linked to delayed development and poor long-term health outcomes, including mental health disorders, substance use and chronic illnesses.

“This study offers a unique perspective due to its emphasis on the impact of ACEs on children,” said Chipalo. “This research differs from previous studies that have linked the number of ACEs and the likelihood of experiencing homelessness in adult populations in different settings.”

Chipalo’s analysis found that the risk of homelessness increases with the number of adverse experiences a child has. His findings suggest that the cumulative effect of adversities can influence not only health and emotional well-being but also housing and economic stability later in life.

The study used a social ecological framework to assess the relationship between childhood trauma and child homelessness. This approach examined the interaction of biological, psychological and social factors and how they affect a child’s development and outcomes.

By identifying these patterns early, Chipalo said, interventions can be developed to support children and families before long-term consequences take hold.

“The solutions must focus on prevention and providing early support,” he said. “Addressing ACEs at their root could reduce not only individual suffering but also broader social and economic challenges related to homelessness.”

He is scheduled to present his research findings at several academic conferences across North America this year.

In addition to this study, Chipalo is planning several future research projects that further examine the effects of adverse childhood experiences on a wide range of outcomes using a biopsychosocial framework. His upcoming work will explore how ACEs influence children’s participation in community activities, quality of sleep, body image dissatisfaction, body mass index, physical activity, temperament, digital media use, health care utilization and mental health in immigrant households with limited resources.

This summer, Chipalo said he also plans to begin collecting data that will examine the impact of ACEs on mental health and socioeconomic outcomes among African refugees and immigrants in the Greater Cincinnati area.

Featured image at top: Edson Chipalo, PhD, assistant professor in the School of Social Work, in the Health Sciences Building atrium. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.