Adverse Life Experiences Scale

Lechowicz, Meryn; Roach, Alex; Fisher, Carri; Hawes, David J.; Dadds, Mark R.

doi:10.1037/t79496-000

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…The ALES (Lechowicz et al, 2018) was developed in direct response to the evidence and issues outlined here. Accordingly, it was created as a brief caregiver self-report measure to index not only number and type of ACEs in the life of an individual, but the developmental timing and chronicity of these experiences.…”

Section: David J Hawesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Capturing the developmental timing of adverse childhood experiences: The Adverse Life Experiences Scale.

Hawes¹,

Lechowicz²,

Roach³

et al. 2021

American Psychologist

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Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with a range of physical and mental health problems, and it is now understood that the developmental timing of ACEs may be critically important. Despite this, there is a distinct lack of methods for the efficient assessment of such timing in research and clinical settings. We report on the development and validation of a new measure, the Adverse Life Experiences Scale (ALES), that indexes such developmental timing within a format incorporating caregivers’ reports of ACEs in their own lives and those of their children. Participants were a nationally representative sample of Australian families (n = 515; Study 1), and a sample of clinic-referred families (n = 168; Study 2). Results supported the internal consistency and test–retest reliability of the ALES and indicated high levels of acceptability for the measure. In terms of validity, ALES scores were significantly associated with interview-based measures of child maltreatment and quality of the family environment, as well as measures of psychopathology across multiple informants (parents, teachers, clinician-rated). Furthermore, indices of ACEs occurring within specific age-based periods of childhood were found to explain unique variance in current symptoms of child and caregiver psychopathology, independent of the overall chronicity of those ACEs and current adversity.

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Section: David J Hawesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Capturing the developmental timing of adverse childhood experiences: The Adverse Life Experiences Scale.

Hawes¹,

Lechowicz²,

Roach³

et al. 2021

American Psychologist

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“…ALES (Hawes et al, 2021; Lechowicz et al, 2018) is a caregiver report questionnaire that assesses adversities experienced in a caregiver's own life as well as in their child's life. The measure comprises distinct caregiver and child components, each consisting of 24 yes/no risk factor items concerning exposure to the same adversities respectively.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The assessment of adverse childhood experiences in clinical settings: Practitioner competencies and perceptions

McFarlane

Hawes

2021

Clin Psychology and Psychoth

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Issues concerning the screening and assessment of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in healthcare settings have been subject to growing scrutiny in recent years, yet relatively little is known about practitioner perceptions and competencies related to such practices. This study examined practitioner knowledge, ability and concerns about the assessment of ACEs among parents and children in clinical settings and the acceptability of a newly validated measure (The Adverse Life Experiences Scale, ALES) for this purpose. Participants were (N = 144) healthcare practitioners (predominantly psychologists, nurses, social workers and psychiatrists). Measures were completed online, and the effects of family characteristics on practitioner perceptions were tested experimentally using case vignettes. Participants indicated moderate-tohigh levels of knowledge and ability regarding the assessment of ACEs, and the ALES demonstrated high levels of acceptability across hypothetical cases involving various levels of risk. Practitioner concerns about such assessment were also found to be influenced by the level of risk indicated by case referral information. Specifically, concerns that assessment would be too upsetting or time-consuming were greater in response to a case with a high level of ACEs, compared to one with low-to-moderate ACEs (p < .05; large effect size). Practitioners demonstrated relatively high competencies regarding the assessment of ACEs and supported the use of the ALES for this purpose. Those families with the highest levels of ACEs may nonetheless be the least likely to receive such assessment in clinical settings.

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Examining implications of the developmental timing of maternal trauma for prenatal and newborn outcomes

Kaliush,

Kerig,

Raby

et al. 2023

Infant Behavior and Development

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Adverse Life Experiences Scale

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Capturing the developmental timing of adverse childhood experiences: The Adverse Life Experiences Scale.

Capturing the developmental timing of adverse childhood experiences: The Adverse Life Experiences Scale.

The assessment of adverse childhood experiences in clinical settings: Practitioner competencies and perceptions

Examining implications of the developmental timing of maternal trauma for prenatal and newborn outcomes

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