Interrelatedness of Adverse Childhood Experiences: Exploring Patterns of Exposure and Impacts on Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

Introduction: Children living in poverty face a range of parenting and environmental risks (Adverse Childhood Experiences; ACEs) that, in the absence of a nurturing caregiver, can result in toxic stress. Unfortunately, many risks co-occur; increasing the number of ACEs experienced by children. This study examined patterns of co-occurring ACEs at ages one (N = 2,361), two (N = 1,993), and three (N = 2,154). Methods: Participants were enrolled in the U.S. Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project. At enrollment, caregivers were 22.7 years of age (SD = 6) and about half …