Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)
The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire is designed to assess the exposure to potentially traumatic events during childhood. It is widely used in both clinical and research settings to understand the impact of these experiences on long-term health and well-being.
Length of Filling
Filling out the entire questionnaire will take approximately 5-10 minutes.
Survey Structure
The ACE questionnaire consists of 10 items that cover various types of adverse experiences, such as:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Physical neglect
- Emotional neglect
- Household substance abuse
- Household mental illness
- Parental separation or divorce
- Incarcerated household member
- Witnessing violence against the mother
Scoring Method
- Each item is scored as 0 or 1, with “0” indicating the absence of the experience and “1” indicating the presence of the experience.
- The total score is the sum of the scores for all 10 items, with a range from 0 to 10.
Subscales
- The ACE questionnaire does not have subscales; it is a single, unified measure designed to assess the overall exposure to adverse childhood experiences.
Response Scale
Respondents answer each item with a simple “Yes” or “No.”
Keywords
childhood trauma, adverse experiences, mental health, physical health, long-term impact, questionnaire
References
Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., et al. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245-258. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00017-8
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024). About Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). https://www.cdc.gov/aces/about/index.html
Instructions for Administrators
When administering the ACE questionnaire, it is important to:
- Create a Safe Environment: Ensure the respondent feels safe and comfortable sharing potentially distressing experiences.
- Provide Support: Be prepared to offer emotional support or referrals to mental health services if the respondent becomes distressed.
- Confidentiality: Ensure that the respondent’s information is kept confidential and is only used for the intended assessment purposes.
By carefully following these guidelines, you can help respondents navigate the sensitive process of discussing and assessing their exposure to adverse childhood experiences.