The Intersection of Social Determinants of Health and Adverse Childhood Experiences for Incarcerated Women in San Bernardino County

Abstract

Objectives – Given the multitude of barriers faced by incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, we contribute to prior literature through our exploration of the relationship between Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scores among a sample of incarcerated individuals (women) in San Bernardino County.

Methods – We performed a secondary data analysis on the original, self-reported data collected in 2011 from 336 female participants serving sentences in the San Bernardino County Jail System. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to examine the association between ACE scores and select covariates.

Result – Higher ACE scores were associated with participants characterized as younger, low income, and unemployed and were significant among incarcerated women whose biological father has been in trouble with the law and those with an incarcerated household member. Additionally, participants with higher ACE scores were raised in more unstable neighborhoods.

Conclusions – The study demonstrates strong evidence that ACE scores are interrelated with individual-level characteristics, family stability, and SDOH, and impact the health outcomes and life experiences of vulnerable populations.

Citation

Henley, N. and Anderson, A.Y. (2020), "The Intersection of Social Determinants of Health and Adverse Childhood Experiences for Incarcerated Women in San Bernardino County", Kronenfeld, J.J. (Ed.) Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Other Social Characteristics as Factors in Health and Health Care Disparities (Research in the Sociology of Health Care, Vol. 38), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 129-141. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0275-495920200000038012