Associations between adverse childhood experiences and psychological distress among Swedish upper secondary school students

BACKGROUND: The detrimental impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on health have been extensively studied, mainly focusing on the effects of ACEs on adults. However, there is a dearth of studies exploring their influences on adolescents. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the associations between ACEs and psychological distress among Swedish adolescents. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: At the end of 2020, 1561 Swedish adolescents (15-19-years-old) participated in an electronic survey. The survey encompassed questions about alcohol and drug use problems within the students' families, questions about the students' experiences of physical and psychological abuse, and the administration of the Brief Symptom Inventory to assess their mental health. METHODS: Descriptive and comparative non-parametric statistics were applied. RESULTS: = 0.14 on the General Severity Index scale). There was a positive correlation (r = 0.36) between the number of ACEs experienced and worsened mental health. CONCLUSIONS: The significant impacts of any ACE, the cumulative number of ACEs, and, particularly, psychological abuse on adolescent mental health are discussed. To further enhance the understanding of these associations and identify effective interventions to prevent and mitigate the negative impact of ACEs on mental health, additional research is warranted.