Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as childhood abuse and neglect, have been identified as salient risk factors for adult depression. However, not all individuals who experience ACEs go on to develop depression. To assess the extent to which resilience- or the ability to demonstrate stable levels of functioning despite adversity- moderates the association between ACEs and depression, 4,006 adult primary care patients completed self-report questionnaires on their childhood experiences and current depressive symptoms and resilience. Results indicated that resilience moderated the association between ACEs and depression, F(10, 3039) = 174.36, p < .001, R2 = .365. Specifically, the association between ACEs and depression was stronger among individuals with low resilience relative to those with high resilience. Findings have the potential to inform the development of a treatment program aimed to reduce symptoms of depression among primary care patients with a history of childhood adversity.
