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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Apr 4.
Published in final edited form as: Psychosom Med. 2009 Feb 2;71(2):243–250. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181907888

TABLE 1.

Definition and Baseline Prevalence of Categories of Adverse Childhood Experiences Reported by Adults Aged ≥19 Years by Sex: Adverse Childhood Experiences Study 1995 to 1997

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Women, % (n = 8293) Men, % (n = 7064) Total, % (n = 15,357)
Emotional abuse 12.8 7.4 10.3
 Did a parent or other adult in the household …
 1) Often or very often swear at you, insult you, or put you down?
 2) Sometimes, often, or very often act in a way that made you that you might be physically hurt?
Physical abuse 26.7 29.7 28.0
 Did a parent or other adult in the household …
 1) Often or very often push, grab, slap, or throw something at you?
 2) Ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?
Sexual abuse 24.3 16.0 20.5
 Did an adult or person at least 5 years older ever …
 1) Touch or fondle you in a sexual way?
 2) Have you touch their body in a sexual way?
 3) Attempt oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you?
 4) Actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you?
Substance abuse in household 29.2 23.6 26.7
 1) Live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic?
 2) Live with anyone who used street drugs?
Mental illness in household 22.8 14.4 19.0
 1) Was a household member depressed or mentally ill?
 2) Did a household member attempt suicide?
Mother treated violently 13.5 11.5 12.6
 Was your mother or stepmother …
 1) Sometimes, often, or very often pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her?
 2) Sometimes, often, or very often kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard?
 3) Ever repeatedly hit over at least a few minutes?
 4) Ever threatened with or hurt by a knife or gun?
Incarcerated household member 5.0 3.9 4.5
 1) Did a household member go to prison?
Parental separation or divorce 23.8 21.6 22.8
 1) Were your parents ever separated or divorced?
ACE Score
 0 34.8 38.3 36.4
 1 24.7 28.0 26.2
 2 25.8 24.6 25.2
 ≥3 14.7 9.1 12.1