Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and its association with mental health outcomes: Cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are pivotal precursors to poor mental health outcomes. However, studies focusing on the Arab/Islamic population, including Oman, are scarce. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between ACE and mental health outcomes (e.g., depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation) among Omani adults. Methods: A total sample of 1,648 adults were recruited from a university-affiliated hospital in Oman using convenient sampling technique. Adverse Childhood Experience International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) was utilized to measure ACEs while CDC Health Appraisal Questionnaire (HAQ) was used to measure the mental health outcomes. Results: The results show that 88% of participants suffered at least from one ACE in their childhood. The prevalence of mental health outcomes as follow: anxiety (10.32%), depression (6.10%), and suicidal ideation (4.61%). ACE level significantly correlated with depression (p