Anxiety disorders are not only extremely common, but they also have a long-term adverse impact on the lives of people of all ages worldwide. One of the known risk factors for developing such psychopathology is adverse childhood experience (ACE). Although there has been much interest in understanding the causal relationship between ACE and physical and mental wellbeing in adults, data on how ACE may impact individuals differently in terms of increased risk for anxiety disorders is lacking. This article investigates how biological (neurological, gene methylation, and gene-environment) and psychosocial (attachment) factors influence a person’s susceptibility to ACE-related adulthood anxiety. The type of trauma, gender differences, and the total number of adversities emerged as three themes from the literature review on anxiety risk factors for individuals with ACE. Research suggests that early, multiple, repeated emotional traumas may have a greater adverse long-term effect, particularly in females. However, early adversity does not predispose children to develop psychopathologies since a secure attachment may lessen the detrimental impact of trauma and protect children from adverse experiences.
