Adverse Childhood Experiences: Mental Health Consequences and Risk Behaviors in Women and Men in Chile
Studies conducted worldwide indicate that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are among the most intense and frequent sources of stress, considerably influencing mental and physical health while also resulting in risk behaviors in adulthood. Methodology: We used data from the Pilot National Survey...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/12/1841 |
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| author | Sofía Ramírez Labbé María Pía Santelices James Hamilton Carolina Velasco |
| author_facet | Sofía Ramírez Labbé María Pía Santelices James Hamilton Carolina Velasco |
| author_sort | Sofía Ramírez Labbé |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Studies conducted worldwide indicate that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are among the most intense and frequent sources of stress, considerably influencing mental and physical health while also resulting in risk behaviors in adulthood. Methodology: We used data from the Pilot National Survey of Adversity and Sexual Abuse in Childhood (2020), conducted by CUIDA UC, which comprises the Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire [ACE-IQ] (Adapted). The cross-sectional methodology used made it possible to directly calculate the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences in the population sampled, at a single point in time. We performed a bivariate and univariate descriptive analysis, a correlation analysis, and a multivariate analysis, all of which will be detailed in the section entitled “General Data Analysis Procedure”. Results: We found equally high rates of adverse childhood experiences in men and women, with community violence exhibiting the highest prevalence. We found significant low- to moderate-sized associations between the multiple types of ACEs considered and mental health problems, substance use problems, criminal behaviors, and intrafamily violence (IFV), which differed between men and women. Significant correlations were detected between the ACE score and mental health, substance use, criminal behaviors, and IFV in both men and women. Importantly, ACEs were found to be predictors of all of these variables, with differences observed between men and women. Conclusions: Nearly all participants reported having had at least one ACE and more than half reported had four or more ACEs. Those who had had four or more ACEs were more likely to report problems throughout their life. Having an ACE of any type was found to be a better predictor of mental health problems and IFV in men than in women and might be a stronger risk factor for substance use and criminal behaviors in women than in men. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:11:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c80663e81962463c86b1b275b9362a70 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:11:48Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-c80663e81962463c86b1b275b9362a702023-11-24T14:00:42ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672022-11-01912184110.3390/children9121841Adverse Childhood Experiences: Mental Health Consequences and Risk Behaviors in Women and Men in ChileSofía Ramírez Labbé0María Pía Santelices1James Hamilton2Carolina Velasco3Escuela de Psicología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Santiago, 7810000, ChileEscuela de Psicología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Santiago, 7810000, ChileCentro de Investigación del Abuso y la Adversidad Temprana, CUIDA, Santiago 7810000, ChileEscuela de Trabajo Social, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7810000, ChileStudies conducted worldwide indicate that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are among the most intense and frequent sources of stress, considerably influencing mental and physical health while also resulting in risk behaviors in adulthood. Methodology: We used data from the Pilot National Survey of Adversity and Sexual Abuse in Childhood (2020), conducted by CUIDA UC, which comprises the Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire [ACE-IQ] (Adapted). The cross-sectional methodology used made it possible to directly calculate the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences in the population sampled, at a single point in time. We performed a bivariate and univariate descriptive analysis, a correlation analysis, and a multivariate analysis, all of which will be detailed in the section entitled “General Data Analysis Procedure”. Results: We found equally high rates of adverse childhood experiences in men and women, with community violence exhibiting the highest prevalence. We found significant low- to moderate-sized associations between the multiple types of ACEs considered and mental health problems, substance use problems, criminal behaviors, and intrafamily violence (IFV), which differed between men and women. Significant correlations were detected between the ACE score and mental health, substance use, criminal behaviors, and IFV in both men and women. Importantly, ACEs were found to be predictors of all of these variables, with differences observed between men and women. Conclusions: Nearly all participants reported having had at least one ACE and more than half reported had four or more ACEs. Those who had had four or more ACEs were more likely to report problems throughout their life. Having an ACE of any type was found to be a better predictor of mental health problems and IFV in men than in women and might be a stronger risk factor for substance use and criminal behaviors in women than in men.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/12/1841adverse experienceschildhoodmental healthrisk behaviorsadulthood |
| spellingShingle | Sofía Ramírez Labbé María Pía Santelices James Hamilton Carolina Velasco Adverse Childhood Experiences: Mental Health Consequences and Risk Behaviors in Women and Men in Chile Children adverse experiences childhood mental health risk behaviors adulthood |
| title | Adverse Childhood Experiences: Mental Health Consequences and Risk Behaviors in Women and Men in Chile |
| title_full | Adverse Childhood Experiences: Mental Health Consequences and Risk Behaviors in Women and Men in Chile |
| title_fullStr | Adverse Childhood Experiences: Mental Health Consequences and Risk Behaviors in Women and Men in Chile |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adverse Childhood Experiences: Mental Health Consequences and Risk Behaviors in Women and Men in Chile |
| title_short | Adverse Childhood Experiences: Mental Health Consequences and Risk Behaviors in Women and Men in Chile |
| title_sort | adverse childhood experiences mental health consequences and risk behaviors in women and men in chile |
| topic | adverse experiences childhood mental health risk behaviors adulthood |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/12/1841 |
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