Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire
ACE-QAdverse Childhood Experience Exposure
10 items
1998
α N/A (test-retest reliability 0.78)
Free
Felitti, V.J., Anda, R.F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D.F., Spitz, A.M., Edwards, V., Koss, M.P., & Marks, J.S.
What it measures
The original 10-category screening tool for adverse childhood experiences, developed from the landmark CDC-Kaiser Permanente ACE study. ACE score is a count of distinct adverse experience categories before age 18. ACE scores show a dose-response relationship with numerous adult health outcomes including depression, substance use, and cardiovascular disease.
Representative items
- Did a parent or other adult in the household often swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you? (Emotional Abuse)
- Did a parent or other adult in the household often push, grab, slap, or throw something at you? (Physical Abuse)
- Did you often feel that no one in your family loved you? (Emotional Neglect)
- Were your parents ever separated or divorced? (Household Dysfunction)
- Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic? (Household Dysfunction)
Citation
Felitti, V.J., Anda, R.F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D.F., Spitz, A.M., Edwards, V., Koss, M.P., & Marks, J.S. (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.