Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Abstract Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events linked to health issues and public health costs. The World Health Organization (WHO)’s ACE International Questionnaire – International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) is a widely used tool to screen ACEs, though its factorial structure remains debated. This study addresses gaps in ACE-IQ research being the first examining factor structures invariance across gender, age, and educational levels, considering both binary and frequency scores. Through convenience sampling, 1205 participants were recruited. The Italian version of the ACE-IQ, validated through back-translation, was administrated. Data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Category-based analysis using binary scoring suggested a two-component model: At-risk environment and Maltreatment, showing good fit after adjustments, and with the frequency scoring system yielded unsatisfactory results with two excluded categories. Item-based binary scoring analysis identified five factors with good fit, but issues persisted across gender and education levels with one factor. The category-based analyses revealed a two-factor solution for both ACE-IQ’s scoring systems, consistent with previous research. The binary scoring system’s category-based structure demonstrated invariance across gender and age, but not educational levels, while the frequency scoring system’s structure showed potential weaknesses. The item-based analysis suggested a five-factor solution and emphasized the distinctiveness of sexual abuse.
Muzi et al. (Wed,) studied this question.