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. 2022 Dec;57(12):2359-2366.
doi: 10.1007/s00127-022-02277-z. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Prevalence of adverse childhood experiences and their co-occurrence in a large population of adolescents: a Young HUNT 3 study

Rosalie Broekhof  1   2 , Hans M Nordahl  3   4 , Sigrid Bjørnelv  3 , Sara G Selvik  5   3
Affiliations

Prevalence of adverse childhood experiences and their co-occurrence in a large population of adolescents: a Young HUNT 3 study

Rosalie Broekhof et al. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose: Studies of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) undertaken at the time of adolescence in the general population are not common. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and co-occurrence of the individual ACEs and sub-types of ACEs in a large population of adolescents.

Methods: Data were used from the Young Nord-Trøndelag Health (Young HUNT 3) study, a population-based study of young adolescents. ACEs were operational defined as sexual, physical and/or emotional abuse; physical and/or emotional neglect; and/or household dysfunction. Co-occurrence was measured as the accumulation of ACEs and as an overlap analysis.

Results: Of the 8199 evaluable adolescents, 65.8% had experienced at least one ACE and 28% of those had experienced more than one ACE. Household dysfunction was the most prevalent ACE subtype. The biggest overlaps among the three ACE sub-types were seen in those reporting neglect or abuse.

Conclusion: There was a high degree of overlap between the three ACE sub-types and the individual ACEs, indicating that ACEs should be assessed together as a whole rather than separately. This study provides an opportunity to assess ACEs and their co-occurrences in relation to outcomes later in life.

Keywords: ACE; Abuse; Childhood maltreatment; Neglect; Prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Overview of the questions from the Young Helse Nord-Trøndelag (HUNT) study questionnaire to obtain operational definitions of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) * Questions for parents of the Young HUNT 3 study adolescents who had participated in the HUNT 3 study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Operational definitions of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The prevalence is given as the number of adolescents responding positively (N) and also as a percentage of the total number of evaluable adolescents in the Young HUNT 3 study (N = 8199; 10,464 were invited) The significant higher ACEs for girls are emotional and sexual abuse, emotional neglect, parental substance use, and parental divorce. The significant higher ACEs for boys are physical abuse and witnessing violence. m mean, SD standard deviation, y years. * Questions for parents of the Young HUNT 3 study adolescents, who had participated in the HUNT 3 study
Fig.3
Fig.3
Venn diagram showing overlap between the three sub-types of adverse childhood experience (ACE). Results are given as the number of adolescents responding positively and as percentages of the number of adolescents in the Young HUNT 3 study who had experienced at least one of the three sub-types of ACE, N = 5398
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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