Introduction: Over 60% of college students meet criteria for at least one mental health issue. Evidence indicates that adverse childhood experiences (ACE) compromise students’ mental health with over half of college students reporting at least 1 ACE and over 12% report  4. Two areas of research that have important implications for prevention work are the developmental timing of ACE and identification of modifiable protective factors. This study explored the association between ACE and depression, psychological distress, suicide risk, and loneliness, the developmental timing of ACE, and the role of coping strategies in these associations among diverse southern California college students.

Methods: Data are student responses (N=2,145) on the 2024 National College Health Assessment (NCHA) survey. Regression models tested associations between ACE type (maltreatment, household dysfunction, and neglect) and depression diagnosis, psychological distress (KESS 6), suicide risk (SBQR), and loneliness (UCLA scale); explored the developmental timing of ACE (early childhood age 0-5, middle childhood age 6-11, adolescence 12-17); and whether coping styles (task-oriented, emotion-oriented, avoidant) moderated the ACE - mental health relationship.

Results: The sample was 20% Non-Hispanic White, 47% Hispanic, 16% Asian, 6% Other, 5% Multiracial, and 4% African American. Almost 70% of students reported ACE and 26% experienced multiple ACE types. One in 5 students (20%) screened positive for either depression, psychological distress, and suicide risk and