More than two-thirds of young people in Europe have experienced childhood adversity ranging from domestic violence to the death of a parent, exposing them to poorer mental health and quality of life years later, according to a new report from the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe.
More than one in five young adults reported experiencing four or more adverse childhood experiences.
“When a child grows up around violence or a household in crisis, we shouldn't be surprised that it follows them into the classroom, job market and their relationships years later,” said Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, director of health systems at the WHO/Europe.
She added that the extent of the problem is often overlooked and the consequences expand to several aspects of people's lives.
“This isn't a mental health issue in isolation. It's a social and economic one, and it needs every sector at the table, not just health services,” said Azzopardi-Muscat.
The report surveyed more than 26,000 young adults aged 18 to 30 across Europe between November 2025 and January 2026. It measured exposure to nine forms of adversity, such as physical, emotional or sexual abuse, physical neglect, household substance use, household mental illness, parental separation or death, and witnessing domestic violence during their childhood.
“The findings are remarkably consistent. Adverse childhood experiences are at the root of poorer health, social and economic outcomes among young adults across Europe,” said Mark Bellis, from Liverpool John Moores University and academic lead for the study.
RelatedThe most common experiences were parental separation or death, witnessing domestic violence or suffering emotional abuse.
Exposure to chronic stress in early childhood, which can be caused by these adverse experiences, disrupts brain development, impairs emotional regulation and alters physiological stress response systems, the report noted.
Young adults reporting four or more adverse experiences suffered significantly higher rates of physical pain or discomfort, difficulties with everyday activities like work or study, impaired mobility and self-care difficulties.
Among those who reported exposure to four or more adverse experiences, 76.3% felt they had needed professional mental health support in the previous year, compared with 36.7% of those who reported none.
However, young people most exposed to harmful experiences were also more likely to report that they had not received the mental health support they felt they needed, the report warned.
Breaking the cycle
Without effective prevention and early intervention, harmful experiences tend to recur across generations, the authors warned.
Adults affected by childhood adversity face higher risks of raising their own children in conditions marked by financial stress, domestic violence, and parental mental ill health.
Despite this stark picture, the report noted that even those exposed to more adverse experiences could still achieve positive outcomes.
The good news, Bellis said, is that adverse childhood experiences can be prevented and their impacts reduced.
“With support from policymakers, investment in safer and more nurturing childhoods will help deliver healthier populations, stronger communities and a more prosperous future for Europe,” he added.
