Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Adversity in childhood is linked to mental and physical health throughout life

Charles A. Nelson, Zulfiqar A Bhutta, Nadine Burke Harris, Andrea Danese, Muthanna Samara

BMJ · 2020

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Summary

This review by Nelson and colleagues examines the evidence linking childhood adversity and toxic stress exposure to poor mental and physical health outcomes throughout the lifespan. The authors argue that the scale of disease burden and economic costs attributable to these early-life stressors warrants urgent investment in prevention and early intervention strategies. The paper appears positioned to inform public health and policy responses to childhood adversity.

UK applicability

The findings are likely applicable to United Kingdom policy and practice, particularly regarding child protection, public health prevention, and healthcare resource allocation. However, the specific prevalence and cost estimates may vary depending on the geographical focus of the original paper.

Key measures

Prevalence of toxic stress in childhood; long-term disease burden, morbidity, and mortality; financial costs associated with health consequences

Outcomes reported

The study examined the relationship between childhood adversity (toxic stress) and subsequent mental and physical health outcomes across the lifespan. The paper appears to have synthesised evidence on the prevalence and downstream consequences of toxic stress exposure in childhood.

Theme
General food systems / other
Subject
Food security & global nutrition
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
System type
Human clinical
DOI
10.1136/bmj.m3048
Catalogue ID
SNmojmgm6q-1y0cx0

Topic tags

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