A person-centered examination of adverse childhood experiences and associated distal health, mental health, and behavioral outcomes in the United Arab Emirates

Background: An increasing body of evidence highlights the utility of examining adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) utilizing person-centered analytical approaches, particularly for understanding the organization and co-occurrence of ACEs, and their contributions to risk, vulnerability, and the development of intervention efforts. Methods: In the first study of its kind, this paper uses Latent Class Analysis, to assess ACEs among a large community sample in Abu Dhabi, capital city of the United Arab Emirates, by examining patterns of ACEs and their associated impact on health, mental health, behavioral risk, and adult psychological function in a cross-sectional sample of 922 members of the Abu Dhabi community. Results: Findings support a 3-class solution, representing low-to-no ACEs, Household ACEs, and Violence ACEs among this sample, with variability in the age, sex, and nationality status reflected across classes. ACE categories notably differentiated later adult risk for a suite of diagnoses of health and mental health disorders, risk for elevated screening values for depression, anxiety and stress, and a range of adult risk-related behaviors. Conclusion: These findings are considered in line with the extant literature and form the basis of considerable public health policy and intervention planning in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, and the Arab region.