Adverse childhood experiences growing up in East or West Germany or abroad

Abstract

BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur before the age of 18. The term encompasses various adverse childhood experiences, e.g., physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, physical and psychological neglect, and family dysfunction. Prevalence estimates for a broad spectrum of ACEs against the background of where childhood and adolescence were spent are scarcely available in Germany. This study examines the frequencies of adverse childhood experiences, considering growing up in East or West Germany or abroad and interacting with different age cohorts and gender.MethodsA total of 5,018 individuals (51.4% female) aged 14 years and older were retrospectively assessed on adverse childhood experiences using questionnaires “adverse childhood experiences” (ACE). Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between birth cohort, gender, and where a person grew up. Descriptive statistics and univariate analyses were used to calculate frequencies, proportions, and unadjusted associations for each variable.Results37.4% (N = 1,878) of respondents reported experiencing at least one form of ACE. Individuals who grew up abroad report significantly more adverse childhood experiences than individuals in East or West Germany. Men and women who grew up in East Germany reported a lower rate of ACEs. We found significant effects for all predictors: Where childhood and adolescence were predominantly spent, year of birth, and gender. Significant differences in the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences within the gender groups were only found for sexual and physical abuse and substance dependence in the household.ConclusionThe results suggest that the socio-political context plays an essential role in the experience of adverse childhood experiences, both in frequency and risk. Thus, child abuse and neglect studies should increasingly focus on societal risk and protection mechanisms.

Variety ACEs and risk of developing anxiety, depression, or anxiety-depression co-morbidity: the 2006–2022 UK Biobank data

“…Previous research has shown that social background is an important factor influencing ACEs ( 43 ). For example, in a study based on a representative sample of the German population, participants from West Germany/foreign countries were at a higher risk of experiencing ACEs compared to East Germany, where state-directed child care is available ( 44 ). Ethnicity may be limited by the area of data collection, with Europeans having a higher prevalence in comparison to other ethnicities.…”

Adverse childhood experiences among people with schizophrenia at comprehensive specialized hospitals in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: a comparative study

“…ACEs are events of a potentially traumatic nature that take place prior to reaching 18 years of age, and have been connected to the primary causes of morbidity and mortality in adulthood ( 1 , 2 ). These ACEs encompass occurrences involving physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, as well as physical and mental neglect, and dysfunction within the family ( 3 ). Individuals with schizophrenia as well as those with other non-psychiatric diseases with severe ACEs, displayed higher levels of comorbidity, necessitated increased medication usage, and required the involvement of a care coordinator compared to individuals with moderate or no ACEs ( 4 – 6 ).…”

Psychosoziale Versorgung und Gesundheit in der DDR – aktuelle Ergebnisse und Analysen

“…In der Shipstudie (Greifswald) werden im Childhood Trauma Screener weniger emotionale Gewalt, körperliche Gewalt und körperliche Vernachlässigung gefunden als in der der Korastudie (Region Augsburg). Dieses Ergebnis erscheint sicherlich vielen Westdeutschen kontraintuitiv, wie dies auch bei vorhergehenden Arbeiten von Ulke et al [6] und Schulz et al [7] der Fall war.…”