Jul 2026· Stress and Health· Vol 42 4, pp.
e70208
· 0 citations· 32 references
Medicine
TL;DR
Both ACEs and genetic burden of depression are associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms, and their joint effects significantly increase the risk of all types of depressive symptoms.
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and genetic burden of depression are key factors influencing depression, but their joint effects remain unclear. This study explores the joint effects on depressive symptoms and examines the mediating role of ACEs. This study was based on data from the prospective cohort Health and Retirement Study (HRS), in which 6204 adults of European ancestry aged 50 years and older were analysed. ACEs were measured using the Psychosocial and Lifestyle Questionnaire (PLQ), and genetic burden was assessed via polygenic risk scores (PRS). Depressive symptoms (total, cognitive-affective, somatic) were evaluated with the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Multivariate Cox regression models were used to assess independent and joint effects, and mediation analysis tested whether genetic burden increased depression risk through ACEs. ACEs were associated with higher risks of total (HR = 1.305, 95% CI: 1.174, 1.451), somatic (1.337, 1.206-1.482), and cognitive-affective (1.247, 1.114-1.395) depressive symptoms. Increased genetic burden was also associated with elevated risks of total (HR = 1.088, 95% CI: 1.033, 1.147) and somatic (1.089, 1.035-1.147) depressive symptoms. Compared to those with no ACEs and low genetic burden, individuals with ACEs and high genetic burden had significantly higher risks of depressive symptoms (total: 60%, somatic: 63%, cognitive-affective: 43%). ACEs mediated the link between genetic burden and somatic symptoms. Both ACEs and genetic burden of depression are associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms, and their joint effects significantly increase the risk of all types of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, genetic burden also indirectly elevates the risk of somatic depressive symptoms by influencing ACEs.
Cumulative Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and low household income are associated with adolescent depression and anxiety, but it is unclear whether distinct ACE subdomains - maltreatment (e.g., abuse) versus parent challenges (e.g., parental mental illness) - when experienced in distinct developmental periods exert a unique influence on adolescent mental health, or how ACEs and economic disadvantage operate together to influence outcomes. Thus, we aimed to (1) examine associations between baseline household income, early childhood ACEs (ages 0-5; sub-indexed as Maltreatment vs. Parent Challenges) and adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms (age 15), and (2) investigate whether household income moderates the associations between ACE sub-indices and each mental health outcome. We used serial linear regressions and data from the United States-based, longitudinal, racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (n = 2523; 51% female; 51% non-Hispanic Black; 36% in poverty at birth). The Parent Challenges sub-index (but not the Maltreatment sub-index) was associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. Low household income was associated with depression symptoms. Income moderated the association between the Parent Challenges sub-index and anxiety symptoms; youth from the lowest and highest income strata were at greatest risk. Strategies are urgently needed for ACE prevention and to support parents of very young children (or expectant parents) who are experiencing behavioral health challenges, interpersonal violence, criminalized behavior, and/or poverty to promote healthy child development and adolescent mental health. Health professionals are well-positioned to advocate for supportive policies, promote trauma-informed environments, and identify/address significant parental challenges early in development.
Chelsea R. Moore, Phillip Veliz, Alison L. Miller et al.· Research in Nursing and Heal...· 0 citations
BACKGROUND
Depression is a leading global health concern and is projected to become one of the major contributors to the global burden of disease in the coming decades. Increasing evidence highlights the role of social determinants-including socioeconomic conditions, social relationships, life stressors, discrimination, and environmental influences-in shaping the risk and clinical expression of depressive disorders. This study aimed to investigate social determinants associated with the presence and severity of depressive symptoms in Italian general population.
METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,036 adults from the Italian general population, recruited through personal networks and online platforms using snowball sampling. Participants completed a structured questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, social support, stressful life events, quality of life, minority stress experiences, social media use, environmental and societal concerns, substance use, and mental health symptoms. Comparative analyses were performed between individuals reporting a clinician-diagnosed depressive disorder (n = 143; 13.8%) and those without a diagnosis (n = 893).
RESULTS
Participants with a depressive disorder reported significantly higher exposure to multiple adverse social determinants. They were more likely to experience stressful life events, reduced perceived social support, poorer quality of life, minority stress, and negative psychosocial effects related to social media use. Concerns regarding broader socio-environmental issues, including political instability and climate change, were also more prevalent in the diagnosed group. These social vulnerabilities were accompanied by greater severity of depressive symptoms, anxiety-related manifestations, impulse-control difficulties, aggressive behaviors, and the use of substances as a coping strategy (all p ⩽ .003).
CONCLUSIONS
The findings support social determinants framework for understanding depression, highlighting the contribution of social adversity, environmental stressors, and relational factors to the development and severity of depressive symptoms. Population-based surveys can help identify vulnerable groups and inform preventive strategies and public health interventions aimed at addressing the social conditions that contribute to depression.
Stefania Chiappini, Valerio Ricci, Francesco Di Carlo et al.· International Journal of Soc...· 0 citations
The long-term effects of arthritis on psychological well-being and cognitive trajectories across diverse cultural contexts remain inadequately characterized. This study systematically examines the associations between baseline arthritis and the subsequent risk of developing depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment, as well as the longitudinal evolution of these outcomes over time. We utilized harmonized longitudinal data from three large prospective cohort studies: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Cox proportional hazards models were applied to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for incident depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment. Longitudinal changes in depressive symptoms (measured by CES-D scores) and global cognitive function were assessed using linear mixed-effects models. Across all three cohorts, arthritis was consistently associated with a significantly elevated risk of incident depressive symptoms, with fully adjusted HRs ranging from approximately 1.2 to 1.6. Trajectory analyses further indicated that individuals with arthritis not only had higher levels of depressive symptoms at baseline but also experienced a more rapid worsening of symptoms over time compared with those without arthritis. In contrast, associations between arthritis and cognitive outcomes were weak and inconsistent. Hazard ratios for cognitive impairment were close to null or only modestly elevated, and differences in cognitive trajectories were small with substantial overlap of prediction intervals. No stable domain-specific cognitive deficits were observed. Arthritis is strongly associated with an accelerated onset and progression of depressive symptoms among older adults, while its direct influence on cognitive decline appears limited. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating routine mental health screening and management into rheumatologic and geriatric care to reduce the cumulative burden of coexisting physical and psychological conditions.
Si-Yi Chen, Yu-Shan Zhao, Shu-Min Huang et al.· Archives of Public Health· 0 citations
Depression may identify a clinically relevant risk state among people receiving haemodialysis and require validation in larger, prospectively sampled cohorts, including potential sex differences in routine biomarkers.
C. Duperrex, G. Smith, S. Rahman et al.· medRxiv· 0 citations
OBJECTIVES
Depressive symptoms are influenced by multiple social factors, but their association with the polysocial risk score (PsRS) remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between PsRS and depressive symptoms, including its network structure.
DESIGN
Population-based cross-sectional study.
SETTING
Jilin Province, China, from June to December 2025.
PARTICIPANTS
A total of 1740 older adults were included in the analysis.
MEASUREMENTS
PsRS was measured using 10 indicators across three domains: socioeconomic status, psychosocial factors, and living environment. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Logistic regression and network analyses were performed.
RESULTS
The prevalence of depressive symptoms among older adults was 33.85%. The participants with depressive symptoms had higher PsRS (4.49 ± 1.94) than those without (3.82 ± 1.89). Higher PsRS was associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.14-1.28). Compared with the low-PsRS group, the odds of depressive symptoms were higher in the moderate-PsRS and high-PsRS groups (moderate: OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.25-1.97; high: OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.71-3.32; P for trend < 0.001). Each of the three domains was significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Network analysis identified social isolation, psychosocial factors, and worthlessness as structurally important nodes.
CONCLUSIONS
Higher PsRS was associated with a greater likelihood of depressive symptoms. Social isolation and worthlessness played important roles in linking polysocial adversity to depressive symptoms.
Yan Xu, Xiangchen Kong, Liangwen Ning et al.· International Psychogeriatri...· 0 citations
Abstract Aims Childhood maltreatment has been associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment in later life, but little is known about whether distinct joint trajectories of social isolation and depression across midlife predict this risk. Methods Using a prospective cohort design with documented childhood maltreatment and matched controls (N = 1196) followed from ages 0 to 11 into late midlife, we modelled joint trajectories of social isolation and depression (ages 29–47) using group-based trajectory modelling (GBTM) and examined their associations with cognitive impairment with no dementia (CIND) at age 59 through modified Poisson regression, controlling for risk factors related to neurodegenerative outcomes (i.e., hypertension, diabetes, obesity, limited physical activity, hearing impairment, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and traumatic brain injury). Results GBTM identified four groups: ‘Not isolated or depressed’ (67.7%), ‘Moderately isolated’ (11.7%), ‘Moderately depressed’ (16.5%) and ‘Chronically isolated and depressed’ (4.1%). Using the ‘Not isolated or depressed’ group as the reference category, membership in the highest-risk trajectory (‘Chronically isolated and depressed’) was associated with a 41.5% higher risk of CIND, whereas the ‘Moderately isolated’ and ‘Moderately depressed’ groups did not differ significantly from the reference group. Black non-Hispanic participants and those with documented childhood maltreatment histories had 32.8% and 21.2% higher risk of CIND, respectively, and each additional year of education was associated with a 4.9% reduction in CIND risk. Conclusions Sustained co-occurring social isolation and depression from early to mid-adulthood predicted increased risk of CIND independent of established risk factors, highlighting prolonged social and emotional difficulties as modifiable targets for late midlife cognitive health.
Diego A. Díaz-Faes, Molly Maxfield, C. Widom· Epidemiology and Psychiatric...· 0 citations