Adverse Childhood Experiences and Depressive Symptoms in a Family Medicine Unit in Michoacán

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of adverse childhood experiences and their relation with the presence of depressive symptoms in a Family Medicine unit in Michoacán. Methods: cross-sectional analytical study carried out in 139 participants assigned to the Family Medicine Unit No. 80 of the Mexican Institute of Social Security. The Adverse Childhood Experiences - International Questionnaire (ace-iq) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II were applied. Descriptive statistics and the χ² test were used. To confirm associations the Stepwise Logistic Regression was performed. Results: 88.5% of the sample reported at least one adverse childhood experience, while 59% reported three or more. The frequency of depressive symptoms was 29.5%, and 97.6% of participants with depressive symptoms reported at least one adverse childhood experience. Logistic regression analysis showed that physical and emotional abuse, and employment status predicted for the presence of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: frequency of adverse childhood experiences is higher than reported in other studies, and is associated with the presence of depressive symptoms in adults.