Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences Score and Traumatic Brain Injury Occurrence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are highly prevalent globally, and both are associated with long-term negative health outcomes across the lifespan. Past research exploring the potential association between ACEs and TBI occurrence has demonstrated mixed findings. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association between the ACEs measure and TBI occurrence. Moderator analyses were conducted to determine whether certain factors, including participant age, sex, and geographical location, modified the association between ACEs score and TBI occurrence. Searches were conducted in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, and CINHAL for studies published between January 1, 1998, and February 19, 2024. A total of 42 full-text articles were screened against inclusion criteria (i.e., measure of ACEs using the original 8- or 10-item scale or another composite measure of ACEs, TBI occurrence, and effect size for the association between ACEs score and TBI). Eight studies and 10 samples (N = 4954) were included in the meta-analysis. The data were synthesized using a random-effects multilevel meta-analysis, which revealed a significant large positive association between ACEs score and TBI occurrence, r = 0.31, 95% confidence interval [0.13, 0.49], p < 0.001. Moderator analyses did not yield significant results. The current findings demonstrate that individuals who reported a higher ACEs score were more likely to have reported sustaining a TBI, highlighting a need for trauma-informed efforts to prevent TBI and its adverse effects.