Prevalence, socio-demographic correlates and associations of adverse childhood experiences with mental illnesses: Results from the Singapore Mental Health Study

Abstract

BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with deleterious consequences throughout the lifespan of the individual, including an increased risk of mental disorders. However, an in-depth understanding of ACEs in diverse populations is still lacking especially in Asian populations, with few studies done at a population level. ObjectiveThe current study aimed to establish the (i) prevalence of ACEs and its socio-demographic correlates, and, (ii) association of ACEs with mental disorders and suicidality in a multiethnic Asian country.Participants and Setting: Singapore residents aged 18 years and older were recruited from the community as part of a nation-wide cross-sectional epidemiological study. MethodsTrained interviewers conducted face-to-face interviews with participants, and administered the Adverse Childhood Experiences – International Questionnaire and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. ResultsA total of 6126 participants completed the survey. The lifetime prevalence of ACEs in the sample was 63.9 %. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that odds of any ACE were higher among those above 65 years (OR = 1.7) and those without university education (OR = 2.2, 1.9, and 1.5 among those with primary and below, secondary and vocational education respectively). The presence of any ACE was significantly associated with increased odds of mood (OR = 3.7, 95 % CI: 2.3–6.0), anxiety (OR = 3.9, 95 % CI: 2.3–6.8) and alcohol use (OR = 1.7, 95 % CI: 1.1–3.0) disorders. ConclusionsACEs are not uncommon in Asian populations. There is a need to build trauma-informed communities that can incorporate the knowledge of the impact of early trauma into policies and programs.