Table 1.

Characteristics of studies included in the systematic review and meta-analysis

SI#	First author/pub date	Country	Study design	Sample size	Measurement scale
1	Christiaens et al, 201534	Canada	Case–control	622	10-item self-report tool by Felliti et al
2	Grimstad et al, 199944	Norway	Case–control	174	Were asked about the character of the experience(s): genital touch; forced to touch the other person’s genitals; attempted coitus; penile vaginal coitus
3	Noll et al, 200745	USA	Cohort	186	Childhood sexual abuse
4	Leeners et al, 201446	Switzerland	Cohort	255	Childhood sexual abuse experiences were additionally explored using questions modified by Wyatt
5	Selk et al, 201647	USA	Case–control	51 434	The measure of physical abuse included items from the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS); the sexual abuse measure was derived from the survey by Finkelhor et al
6	Harville et al, 201048	UK	Cohort	4865	The phrase ‘childhood hardship’ is used herein to refer to a number of adverse situations in childhood: Financial/structural hardship No interest in education Family dysfunction Lack of supportive caregiving Violence/mental health issues Issues of family structure Number of hardships
7	Appleton et al, 201937	USA	Cohort study	126	10-item self-report tool by Felliti et al
8	Versteegen et al, 202116	USA	Cohort	30	10-item self-report tool by Felliti et al
9	Stanhope et al, 20208	USA	Cohort	2319	10-item self-report tool by Felliti et al
10	Schoenaker et al, 201915	Australia	Cohort	11 556	10-item self-report tool by Felliti et al
11	Miller et al, 201749	USA	Prospective study	744	Asked women a series of questions about their family’s conditions during childhood
12	Mersky et al, 201942	USA	Longitudinal	1848	19-item assessment that has demonstrated good internal consistency
13	Mason et al, 201635	USA	Cohort	45 550	Physical abuse and sexual abuse
14	Cammack et al, 201850	USA	Cohort	230	Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short-Form (CTQ)
15	Bala et al, 202051	Rhode Island	Population-based survey	3350	7-item questionnaire
16	Ben Salah et al, 201938	Tunisia	Prospective follow-up study	593	ACE-International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ)
17	Bhengu et al, 202039	South Africa	Cross-sectional	223	WHO-ACE IQ
18	Gillespie et al,52 2017	USA	Prospective observational design	89	The Stress and Adversity Inventory (STRAIN)
19	Leeners et al, 201446	Switzerland	Cohort	225	Using questions modified from a questionnaire developed by Wyatt
20	McDonnell et al, 201436	USA	Cohort	398	10-item self-report tool by Felliti et al
21	Shaikh et al, 201940	Pakistan	Cohort	300	WHO 31-item ACEs
22	Smith et al, 201653	USA	Cohort	2303	The main modification of the instrument was to collapse the sexual events before the age of 18 questions into one question asking about childhood sexual abuse before age 18
23	Ranchod et al, 201654	USA	Longitudinal study	2873	4-item questionnaire
24	Fredriksen et al, 201727	Norway	Cohort	762	10-item self-report tool by Felliti et al
25	Hantsoo et al, 201928	USA	Observational study	48	10-item self-report tool by Felliti et al
26	Howell et al, 201929	USA	Observational study	101	10-item self-report tool by Felliti et al
27	Letourneau et al, 201930	Canada	Cohort	907	10-item self-report tool by Felliti et al
28	Narayan et al, 201831	USA	Cohort	101	10-item self-report tool by Felliti et al
29	Racine et al, 202032	Canada	Cohort	1994	10-item self-report tool by Felliti et al
30	Young-Wolff et al, 201933	USA	Cohort	355	10-item self-report tool by Felliti et al
31	Barrios et al, 201541	USA	Cohort	1521	8 questions from CDC
32	Hardcastle et al, 202255	UK	Cross sectional	865	10-item self-report tool by Felliti et al

ACE, adverse childhood experience; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.