Early childhood adversity associated with high-intensity public service use

Abstract

Experiences of early childhood adversity are common, with 1 in 6 children having high levels of adversity in their childhood.¹ These exposures have detrimental effects on children's health and developmental trajectories and are associated with poor physical and mental health outcomes across the life course.² Individuals exposed to high levels of childhood adversity might require increased support and services. Research exploring health service use among individuals exposed to childhood adversity has been fragmented. Understanding how exposure to childhood adversity can affect future service use across different domains and sectors is crucial.