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. 2022 Sep 14;19(18):11564. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191811564

Table A1.

Description of Study Measures and Operationalization of Variables.

ACEs Variable (Independent Variable)
ACE Construct WE Survey Questions and Response Options Operationalization
Emotional abuse How many times in the past 12 months has a parent or other adult living in your home said hurtful or mean things to you?
Response options: ‘everyday’, ‘several times a week’, ‘once a week’, ‘a couple times a month’, ‘once a month’, ‘several times a year’, ‘a few times a year’, ‘once a year’, ‘never’		 Emotional abuse was indicated if the respondent noted that it occurred ‘once a month’ or more often.
Emotional neglect Five items from the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) [39] Emotional neglect was indicated if the summed score of the 5 items was 15 or greater, representing moderate to severe neglect.
Exposure to verbal intimate partner violence How often in the past 12 months have you ever seen or heard adults say hurtful or mean things to another adult in the home? EIPV was indicated if the respondent noted it occurred ‘once a month’ or more often.
Household substance abuse

  1. Has a parent or other adult in your home ever had problems with alcohol or spend a lot of time drinking or being hung over?

  2. Has a parent or other adult living in your home ever had problems with drugs?

Response options: Yes/No		 Household substance use was indicated if the respondent noted ‘yes’ to one or both items.
Household mental health issues Has a parent or other adult living in your home ever had. mental health issues like depression or anxiety?
Response options: Yes/No		 Household mental health issues was indicated if the respondent noted ‘yes’ to this item.
Parental separation or divorce Have your biological parents ever been separated or divorced?
Response options: Yes/No 		Parental separation or divorce was indicated if the respondent noted ‘yes’ to this item.
Problems with the police Has a parent or other adult living in your home ever had problems with the police?
Response options: Yes/No 		Parental problems with the police was indicated if the respondent noted ‘yes’ to this item.
Spanking In a typical year, when you were 10 years or younger, about how often do you remember an adult spanking you with their hand on your bottom (bum)?
Response options included: ‘never’, ‘less than once a year’, ‘once a year’, ‘two to three times a year’, ‘four to five times a year’, ‘six to 11 times a year’, ‘about once a month’, ‘about two times a month’, ‘about once a week’, ‘several times a week’, ‘daily’		 Spanking was endorsed if the respondent indicated it occurred ‘two to three times a year’ or more often before the age of 10.
Parental gambling Has a parent or other adult living in your home ever had problems with gambling?
Response options: Yes/No		 Parental gambling was endorsed if the respondent indicated ‘yes to this item.
Foster care or CPO contact

  1. Have you ever been placed in a foster home or group home by Child and Family Services?

  2. Have you ever seen or talked to anyone from a child protective organization (like social services, child welfare, children’s aid, or the Ministry) due to difficulties at home?

Response options: Yes/No		 Foster care or CPO contact was endorsed if the respondent indicated ‘yes’ to either or both items.
Poverty

  1. How often does your family run out of money or find it hard to pay for rent or mortgage on your house?

How often does your family run out of money or find it hard to pay for basic necessities like food or clothing?
Response options: ’never’, ‘rarely’, ‘sometimes’, always’, often’, ‘very often’		 Poverty was endorsed if the respondent indicated ‘sometimes’ or more often to one or both of the items.
Neighbourhood safety How much do you agree with the following statement: I feel safe in my community.
Response options: ‘strongly disagree’, ‘disagree’, ‘neither agree nor disagree’, ‘agree’, ‘strongly agree’		 Unsafe neighbourhood was endorsed if the respondent ‘disagreed’ or ‘strongly disagreed’ with the statement.
Peer-victimization How many times in the past 12 months has a friend, peer, kid at school, or other young person (not an adult or a sibling) done any of the following to you:

  1. Made fun of you, called you names or insulted you in person or behind your back, but excluding texting, email, social media, or online posting or communications.

  2. Spread rumours about you in person or behind your back, but excluding texting, email, social media, or online posting or communications.

  3. Pushed you, shoved you, tripped you, or spit on you.

  4. Said something bad about your race, culture, or religion in person or behind your back, but excluding texting, email, social media, or online posting or communications

  5. Said something bad about your sexual orientation or gender identity in person or behind your back, but excluding texting, email, social media, or online posting or communications.

  6. Said something bad about your body shape, size, or appearance in person or behind your back, but excluding texting, email, social media, or online posting or communications.

  7. Bullied, picked on you, or said mean things about you, or threatened you through texting or the Internet (e.g., posted something on Facebook or other social media, or sent texts or emails).

Response options: ‘never’, ‘1 or 2 times a year’, ‘3–6 times a year’, ‘7–11 times a year’, ‘once a month’, ‘a couple times a month’, ‘once a week’, ‘a couple times a week’, ‘every day’		 Peer victimization was indicated if any of the seven items were experienced by the respondent monthly or more often in the past 12-month period assessed.
Education outcomes (dependent variables)
Adolescent self-reported WE Survey Education Questions
Self-reported grades On your last report card, how would you describe your grades in school? If you are no longer in school, please describe your last report card before leaving school.”
Response options included: a) mostly 80% to 100% (mostly A’s), b) Mostly 70% to 79% (mostly B’s), c) Mostly 60% to 69% (mostly C’s), d) Mostly 50% to 59% (mostly D’s), and e) Mostly less than 50%.		 Responses were grouped into 3 categories- mostly As, mostly Bs, and mostly Cs or lower
Grade repetition Respondents were asked if had “ever repeated a grade (including kindergarten)?”
Response options: Yes/No		 Grade repetition was endorsed if the respondent indicated ‘yes’ to this item.
School absenteeism “In a typical month during the school year, about how many days are you absent from school for any reason?”
Response options: ‘0 days’, ‘1 to 3 days’, ‘4 to 6 days’, ‘7 to 10 days’, ‘11 to 20 days’, ‘more than 20 days’ 		Responses were grouped as ‘0 days’, ‘1–3 days’, or ‘4 or more days’ as a proxy for chronic absenteeism standards of an average of 15 days or more absent in a school year [16].
Suspensions “How many times have you ever had an in school or out of school suspension?”
Response options: ‘never’, ‘1 time’, ‘2 times’, ‘3 times’, ‘4 times’, ‘5 or more times’		 Suspension was endorsed if the respondent indicated ‘1 time’ or more on this item.
Education aspirations Respondents were asked “How far in school do you think you will get?”
Response options: ‘complete Grade 8′, ‘go to high school (Grade 9 to Grade 12) but not complete’, ‘graduate from high school (Grade 12)’, ‘get a diploma or certificate from a trade, technical or vocational school or a business college, community college, or other non-university certificate program’, ‘graduate from university with a bachelor’s degree’, ‘graduate from university with a graduate degree (Master’s or PhD)’, ‘I don’t know’		 Responses were combined into three categories: ‘high school or less’, ‘any post-secondary’, or ‘I don’t know’.
Provincial Education
Assessment 		Competency Descriptions
Grade 3 numeracy

  1. Predicts an element in a repeating pattern;

  2. Understands that the equals symbol represents an equality of the terms found on either side of the symbol;

  3. Understand that a given whole number can be represented in a variety of ways;

  4. Uses various mental mathematical strategies to determine answers to addition and subtraction questions up to the number 18.

 ‘Yes’ if ‘meeting or approaching’ on all four competencies
Grade 3 reading

  1. Reflects on and sets reading goals;

  2. Uses strategies during reading to make sense of texts;

  3. Demonstrates comprehension.

 ‘Yes’ if ‘meeting or approaching’ on all three competencies
Grade 7 mathematics

  1. Orders fractions;

  2. Orders decimal numbers;

  3. Understands that a given number may be represented in a variety of ways;

  4. Uses number patterns to solve mathematical problems;

  5. Uses a variety of strategies to calculate and explain a mental mathematical problem.

 ‘Yes’ if ‘meeting or approaching’ on all five competencies
Grade 7 student engagement

  1. Demonstrates an interest in his/her learning;

  2. Engages in self-assessment;

  3. Aware of learning goals as a unit of study and/or personal learning goals;

  4. Participates in lessons;

  5. Accepts responsibility for assignments.

 ‘Yes’ if ‘established or developing’ on all five competencies
Grade 8 reading/writing

  1. Understands key ideas and messages in a variety of texts;

  2. Interprets a variety of texts;

  3. Responds critically to a variety of texts;

  4. Generates, selects and organizes ideas to support the reader’s understanding;

  5. Chooses language (word choices and sentence patterns) to make an impact on the reader;

  6. Uses conventions (spelling, grammar, and/or punctuation) and resources to edit and proofread to make meaning clear.

 ‘Yes’ if ‘meeting or approaching’ on all six competencies