Adverse Childhood Experiences and Susceptibility to Violent Extremism

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are harms that affect children directly (e.g. physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect) and indirectly through their living environment (e.g. conflict between caregivers, witnessing domestic abuse, and caregiver substance abuse, incarceration, or mental illness). There is a growing literature on the link between ACEs and the later onset of violent extremist outcomes. This study uses a nationally representative sample of the UK general population to explore how different clusters of ACEs can be related to susceptibility to violent extremism. Using latent class analysis, we find four clusters relating to (a) high overall ACEs; (b) child abuse victimisation; (c) unstable home environment; and (d) low ACEs. Men with high probabilities of indicators related to psychological and physical abuse by a parent or caregiver (Child Abuse Victimisation) and those who had moderate probabilities of indicators of a chaotic home environment, including drug use, mental health problems, but notably low probabilities of abuse indicators configurations (Unstable Home) scored significantly higher on our proxy measure for susceptibility to violent extremism. Women who demonstrated high probabilities of all ACEs (High ACEs) also scored significantly higher on our proxy measure for susceptibility to violent extremism.