Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adolescent Mental Health Symptoms: The Role of Peer Interactions

Abstract

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are associated with poor mental health. Evidence suggests that positive peer interactions may buffer these effects, while negative peer interactions may exacerbate this relationship. This longitudinal study assessed Australia adolescents in Year 8 at baseline (N = 4074, mean age 13.89 years) who reported ACEs, internalising and externalising symptoms, and peer interactions (positive and negative) between August 2019 and December 2023. Linear mixed model analyses examined the relationship between ACEs at baseline, and at mental health symptoms at 24-months, and the effects of positive and negative peer interactions. ACEs were associated with greater internalising and externalising symptoms at 24-months (t(3905.81) = 11.45, p .05). However, negative peer social interactions significantly exacerbated the relationship between ACEs and internalising and externalising symptoms over time (t(3912.300)= -2.86, p =.0.004; t(3906.79)=-0.200, p=.<0.001, respectively).