Adverse childhood experiences and somatic symptoms in adulthood
The first study to show that c-PTSD mediates ACEs and somatic symptoms in adulthood
This study by Metka Kuhar & Gaja Zager Kocjan looked at the relationship between adverse experiences in childhood and physical symptoms in adulthood. The researchers wanted to understand why this happens and whether a person's coping skills can make a difference.
They studied 4,847 adults from Slovenia and found that complex post-traumatic stress disorder plays a major role in the link between childhood adversity and physical symptoms. But they also discovered that strong coping skills can help reduce the negative impact of adverse childhood circumstances on physical symptoms in adulthood.