Profiles of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Chinese Emerging Adults: Associations With Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Posttraumatic Growth

Abstract

Individuals who experience adverse events during their early life stages are more likely to face negative consequences across various life domains throughout their lifespan. While latent profile analysis has been increasingly applied to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) worldwide, simultaneous prospective investigations of negative and positive posttraumatic outcomes in Chinese emerging adults remain scarce. The present study aimed to extend prior literature by: (a) assessing the latent profile groupings of ACEs among emerging adults, and (b) analyzing the prospective associations between latent profiles of ACEs and posttraumatic outcomes over a six-month interval, including complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) symptoms and posttraumatic growth (PTG). From 3,994 college students who participated in 2 surveys 6 months apart, 1,814 participants (mean age: 18.93 ± 1.45) who reported ACEs were selected. The sample included 901 males (49.7%) and 913 females (50.3%). Data were collected through a two-wave online survey measuring ACEs, CPTSD symptoms, and PTG. The Latent Profile Analysis identified five ACE profiles: High neglect (14.9%), Moderate family dysfunction (46.3%), Moderate abuse (25.1%), High risk (8.5%), and Moderate maltreatment/High family dysfunction (5.2%). Moderate family dysfunction (Profile 2) and Moderate maltreatment/High family dysfunction showed better posttraumatic adaptation than others. The High-risk group had the worst outcomes, while the High neglect and Moderate abuse groups fared better than the High-risk group. This study provides valuable insights into the concurrent examination of ACEs and their impact on the CPTSD symptoms and PTG of emerging adults. It offers a foundation for developing tailored intervention strategies for affected groups.