Examining cumulative adverse and positive childhood experiences as determinants of youth violence
Analyses of data from the millennium cohort study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8401739 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Aase Villadsen (0000-0003-0066-9188, Centre for Longitudinal Studies, University College London , London, WC1H 0NU, corresponding author), Nicolás Libuy (0000-0002-0476-7642, Adolfo Ibáñez University), Elizabeth Fitzsimons (0000-0003-4466-5963, Centre for Longitudinal Studies, University College London , London, WC1H 0NU) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-17 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The British Journal of Criminology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0007-0955 • E-ISSN: 1464-3529 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1093/bjc/azag015 |
| OpenAlex | W7137965543 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 50 |
This study investigates the role of cumulative adverse and positive childhood experiences (ACEs and PCEs) in the development of youth violence using longitudinal data from the UK millennium cohort study (N = 18,282). Findings show a strong association between higher ACE exposure and increased likelihood of assault, weapon involvement, and gang affiliation in adolescence. Conversely, greater exposure to PCEs is associated with reduced youth violence, with evidence that PCEs attenuate the harmful association between ACEs and violence. This study contributes UK-based evidence and highlights the need for early, multi-domain interventions. Targeting both familial risks and extra-familial protective factors could significantly reduce youth violence and potentially improve broader developmental outcomes across adolescence and beyond
Adverse Childhood Experiences · Association (psychology) · Cohort · Cohort study · Longitudinal data · Longitudinal study · Millennium Cohort Study (United States) · Poison control · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Child Abuse and Trauma · Gun Ownership and Violence Research · Human Factors and Ergonomics
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| Highly cited | No |
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