On average, incarcerated people have higher rates of poor health, mental illness, and histories of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) than the general population. This mixed-methods analysis examines the relationship between ACEs and poor adult health among a sample of formerly incarcerated people. The quantitative analysis (N = 122) shows childhood adversity is associated with various health conditions in adulthood, although the strength of this relationship varies by the kinds of ACEs respondents encountered. The qualitative analysis of life history timelines (N = 42) reveals two pathways relating ACEs to poor health and legal system involvement: (1) violence and victimization and (2) drug use as a coping mechanism. Unaddressed mental health challenges in the aftermath of adversity emerged as an important precursor to both pathways. Prisons lack a meaningful consideration of these early life events and the social structures that result in the high rates of vulnerable people in its care.

中文翻译：

---

脆弱的一生：童年逆境、成年健康状况不佳和刑事法律制度。


平均而言，与一般人群相比，被监禁者的健康状况不佳、精神疾病和不良童年经历 (ACE) 的比例更高。这种混合方法分析研究了曾被监禁的人样本中 ACE 与不良成人健康状况之间的关系。定量分析（N = 122）显示，童年时期的逆境与成年后的各种健康状况有关，尽管这种关系的强度因受访者遇到的 ACE 类型而异。对生活史时间线的定性分析（N = 42）揭示了 ACE 与健康状况不佳和法律系统参与相关的两种途径：（1）暴力和受害；（2）使用毒品作为应对机制。逆境后未解决的心理健康挑战成为这两种途径的重要先兆。监狱缺乏对这些早期生活事件和社会结构的有意义的考虑，导致监狱中弱势群体的比例很高。