Published on: Jul 17, 2025
New research from the University of Georgia reveals that adverse experiences and unsafe environments during childhood can trigger a chain reaction of mental and physical health challenges later in life—particularly for Black men and women.
The study, co-authored by Sierra Carter, the newly appointed associate director of UGA’s Center for Family Research, emphasizes how early-life hardships can set the stage for long-term difficulties. “The way you're raised and the environment you're in as a child can lead to deep-rooted, lasting health issues,” Carter explained.
Using data from the long-running UGA-led Family and Community Health Study, which began in 1996 and follows over 800 families, researchers tracked the impact of early adolescent experiences over time. By age 10, children could already sense when their surroundings were unsafe, and those growing up in dangerous communities showed both behavioral changes and heightened inflammatory responses in the brain.
These early-life stressors, both psychological and biological, often translated into increased alcohol use in young adulthood—a coping mechanism with serious consequences. According to Steven Beach, the study’s lead author and director of the Center for Family Research, the physiological effects of childhood adversity emerged more strongly once participants left the relative safety of their homes. “The background stress responses took time to show up, but once they did, they played a significant role in increasing alcohol consumption,” he said.
Heavy drinking in early adulthood was linked to significant health risks, including heart disease and accelerated aging. At age 29, participants who had engaged in alcohol misuse showed more pronounced signs of biological aging and poorer health outcomes overall. These effects were especially severe among women.
The study also highlighted how Black individuals faced compounded risks, as childhood adversity was often intensified by early experiences of racial discrimination. These experiences increased the likelihood of binge drinking and related health issues such as cardiovascular disease and premature aging. “Exposure to racism sets people on a path that makes future substance use and disease more likely,” Carter noted.
Beach emphasized the importance of early intervention. “We must take childhood environments seriously. By supporting children and strengthening communities early on, we can dramatically change long-term health trajectories.
This research underscores the need for sustained investment in children’s well-being—not only to improve immediate outcomes, but to protect lifelong health.
Source: https://news.uga.edu/childhood-trauma-impacts-health-for-life/
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