Frequency of adverse childhood experiences and family strengths in young adults with hypertension and their relationship to depressive symptoms and metabolic risk

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the frequency of adverse childhood experiences and family strengths in young adults with hypertension and their relationship with depression and cardio-metabolic risk. Method: comparative cross-sectional study. 133 young adults participated (with hypertension: n=60, and control: n=73) attending a Family Medicine Unit of the Mexican Institute of Social Security. The Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, the Family Strengths in Childhood, and the Beck Depression Inventory were used. Fasting glucose levels, Body Mass Index and blood pressure were determined. Results: both groups showed similar frequencies of adverse childhood experiences (with hypertension: 90%, control: 89%), and protective family strengths in childhood (with hypertension: 80%, control: 76.7%). However, substance abuse at home was higher in young adults with hypertension (with hypertension: 63%, control: 41%, p<0.05). The logistic regression model applied to the sample reported no adverse childhood experiences and lack of family strengths (p<0.001) predict depression in both groups. Conclusions: the frequency of adverse childhood experiences in the studied population is higher than that reported in the rest of Latin America, these are strong depression predictors, but not of cardio-metabolic risk.