Life Experiences Scale Research Articles

Validation of the Chinese version of the adverse life experiences scale.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are strongly linked to many mental health problems, and play important role in the intergenerational transmission of psychopathology. Additionally, the developmental timing may also be critical in ACEs' impact on these problems. The Adverse Life Experiences Scale (ALES), as a recently developed measure, has demonstrated good reliability and validity in indexing cumulative risk, developmental timing, and intergenerational transmission. This scale has not been used in China. The purpose of present study was to revise the Chinese version of the ALES and examine its psychometric properties. A total of 527 parents (fathers n = 246, mothers n = 281) from families with at least one child (12-18 years) completed this online survey. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, correlations, regression models were examined for assessing the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the ALES. The Chinese version of the ALES showed acceptable internal consistency (children: α = .72, parents: α = .74) and test-retest reliability (children: r = .86, parents: r = .84). In terms of validity, both parents and children's ACEs scores (total score and most age intervals scores) were significantly correlated with their current symptoms; ACEs scores of some age intervals in early childhood and adolescence significantly predicted symptoms in regression models; and parents' ACEs total score significantly correlated with children's ACEs total score and symptoms (all, girls, boys) except boys' Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire total score. The Chinese version of the ALES showed good psychometric properties for assessing ACEs cumulative risk, developmental timing, and intergenerational transmission, and can serve as a reliable tool to evaluate ACEs in Chinese samples.

Validation of the Portuguese version of the Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale (ISLES) in a sample of bereaved individuals

The Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale (ISLES) evaluates the ability to integrate stressful experiences into one’s meaning system. The present study developed and validated a version of this scale for a bereaved Portuguese-speaking population, utilizing a sample of 242 adults who had lost a significant other to diverse causes of death. The sample was predominantly female, educated, married, or in consensual unions, and actively employed. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure, consisting of 13 items, showing adequate local and global goodness-of-fit and supporting the proposed original structure. Convergent evidence based on internal structure was found for the two dimensions (Comprehensibility and Footing in the World). Regarding reliability, Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega computed for each factor showed good internal consistency and the average inter-item correlation was considered satisfactory. This psychometric support for ISLES underscores its relevance in enhancing the knowledge of meaning-making processes in the Portuguese context.

Suicidal Behaviour and Stressful Life Events: The Mediating Role of the Impulsivity-Aggression-Hostility Triad Through Psychological Autopsy.

Stressful life events (SLEs), impulsivity, aggression, and hostility are known risk factors for suicide. The existence of an "I-A-H Triad" (composed of impulsiveness, aggressiveness and hostility) is proposed as a mediating factor between SLEs and suicide. Data on 399 deceased people (274 from suicide, 125 from other causes) were collected through psychological autopsy. The Paul Ramsey Life Experience Scale (to collect SLE history), the Barrat Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11) and the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI) were applied, using versions adapted for psychological autopsy. Comparative analysis of the two groups showed significant differences in the variables of interest (SLE: = 7.280; BDHI: = 4.201; BIS-11: = 3.812; I-A-H Triad: = 4.84). Mediation analysis confirmed the role of the I-A-H Triad in mediation of the presence of SLEs and the type of death. High levels of impulsivity, aggression, and hostility increase the risk of suicide when a person is faced with SLEs.

Validating the Korean version of the Thinking About Life Experiences Scale

AbstractThe Thinking about Life Experiences (TALE) Scale is well‐used in the autobiographical memory literature. Through rigorous examination of its psychometric properties, this study aimed to validate a Korean version of the Thinking About Life Experiences Scale (TALE‐K) with Korean adults. Data were collected through an online survey. The TALE‐K, and for convergent validity purposes the Korean‐Reminiscence Functions Scale for the Elderly (K‐RFS‐E), were administered to participants aged 19 years to 77. Data from 440 community participants were analyzed. Structural validity and convergent validity were confirmed. Measurement invariance was confirmed across gender but it was partially confirmed across age group. Overall, Cronbach's αs for the three subscales and intra‐class correlation coefficients were good to excellent. The TALE‐K seems to be a reliable, valid self‐report instrument for measuring three autobiographical memory functions (i.e., self‐continuity, social‐bonding, and directing‐behavior functions) in Korean adults. Further studies to better understand autobiographical memory functions in different age groups are recommended.

Resilience in Swedish adolescents-Does resilience moderate the relationship between trauma experience and trauma symptoms?

Research shows child abuse to be devastating for psychological health, but children and adolescents display varying reactions from maltreatment. Resilience is known as a protective factor, but sparse research is conducted on adolescents or assess resilience with consideration of ecological theories. Adolescent Resilience Questionnaire (ARQ) was developed to assess the five dimensions: Individual, Family, Peers, School, and Community and covers the broader ecological resilience spectrum. As resilience is a part of the human being survival system we wanted to investigate if resilience measured with ARQ, could moderate associations between experiences of trauma and trauma symptoms. Six hundred fifty adolescents between 15 and 17 years old were asked to complete the Linkoping Youth Life Experience Scale (LYLES), the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC), and the Adolescent Resilience Questionnaire (ARQ). The results showed that high scores on any dimension of the ARQ were negatively associated with trauma symptoms and that the dimension Peers moderated the effect of trauma symptoms on both interpersonal traumatic events and adverse childhood circumstances for males. The dimension Family moderated the effect of trauma symptoms on noninterpersonal traumatic events for females. Resilience seems to be an important factor when it comes to evaluating posttraumatic symptoms and that different resilience factors have different meanings for different types of traumas as well for boys and girls. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Early Life Experiences Scale (ELES)

Background: Early relationships with parents and their influence on the development of psychopathology have been a topic of interest from different theoretical approaches. Early-life experiences have long-term distributive effects on children’s psychological and behavioral development. Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the Early Life Experiences Scale (ELES). Methods: For developing the Persian version of the ELES, the original scale was translated, reconciled, and back-translated. A sample of 231 students from Iran University of Medical Sciences selected by convenience sampling method in 2019 - 2020 responded to the questionnaires, namely the ELES, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Schizotypal Trait questionnaire-B form (STB), and Self-compassion Scale (SCS) Short-Form. The construct validity of the ELES was determined via confirmatory factor analysis and divergent and convergent validity. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability (two-week interval) were applied to evaluate the reliability. Data analysis was performed using LISREL (version 8.80) and SSPS (version 20) software. Results: The results showed that the ELES is a reliable and valid tool with good internal consistency and test-retest reliability (> 0.70). Concerning convergent validity, ELES showed a significant positive correlation with DERS (r = 0.26) and STB (r = 0.37). It also showed a significant negative relationship with self-compassion (r = 0.45), which indicates the desired divergent validity. The results support the three-factor structure of this scale (submissiveness, feeling valued/unvalued, and feeling threatened) (comparative fit index (CFI): 0.96, normed fit index (NFI): 0.95, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA): 0.08). Conclusions: The early life experiences scale showed adequate validity and reliability and can be applied in evaluating early life experiences in the Iranian population.

The association between meeting physical activity guidelines and academic performance among junior high school adolescents in China-evidence from the China education tracking survey.

To examine how well Chinese adolescents meet the physical exercise time and screen time recommendations in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2021), and the relationship between adolescents' physical exercise time, screen time and their academic performance. Daily physical exercise time, screen time and academic performance were collected from Grade 8 adolescents (n = 9,449). Academic performance included standardized scores on Chinese, Math and English tests and responses to the School Life Experience Scale. Meeting the physical activity time and screen time in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Chinese Residents was associated with adolescents' academic performance. Specifically, having at least 60 min of physical exercise per day was associated with adolescents' school life experiences compared to adolescents who did not meet the physical exercise time and screen time in the Chinese Residents' Physical Activity Guidelines. Less than 2 h of cumulative screen time per day was associated with adolescent mathematics test scores, English test scores and school life experiences. Meeting both physical exercise time and screen time to be recommended had more significant effects on adolescents' mathematics, Chinese, English and school life experiences. Meeting both the physical exercise time and screen time recommendations in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Chinese Residents was more significantly associated with boys' mathematics test scores, Chinese test scores and School life experience. Meeting both the physical exercise time and screen time requirements in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Chinese Residents had a more significant effect on School life experience for girls. Physical exercise participation of at least 60 min per day and/or less than 2 h of cumulative screen time per day were both associated with adolescent academic performance. Stakeholders should actively promote adolescents to follow the Physical Activity Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2021).

Psychometric properties of the full-form and short-form versions of the Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale (ISLES) among Iranian university students.

Making adaptive meaning of stressful life experiences has been identified as an important determinant of adjustment. The Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale (ISLES) was developed to assess the outcome of meaning-making processes in the face of negative events. The psychometric properties of this scale have not been measured in Iranian populations. The purpose of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the 16-item and 6-item versions of ISLES with a sample of 502 university students who had experienced relationship dissolution. Findings support a two-factor structure with acceptable validity and reliability. Positive correlations between the scores of ISLES with Centrality of Event Scale and PTSD symptoms provided evidence of concurrent validity. The results of measurement invariance indicated that both the 16-item and 6-item versions of ISLES are gender invariant and can be used to assess meaning-made in both men and women.

Work-place diversity climate: Its association with racial microaggressions and employee work-place well-being

The study examined the role of work-place diversity climate in relation to employees’ experiences of racial microaggressions (RMAs), their organisational commitment, turnover intentions, job satisfaction, and organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) in selected South African organisations. The employees (n = 262; male = 52.9%; white = 47.1%) completed the Diversity Perception Scale (DPS), the Daily Life Experience Scale (DLE), and measures for organisational commitment, turnover intentions, job satisfaction, and OCB. Following standardised regression analysis, the results indicated that an inclusive diversity climate was associated with lower employee perceptions of RMAs, reduced turnover intentions, improved job satisfaction, and improved OCB. Experiences of RMA’s was directly associated with lower diversity climate, higher turnover intentions, lower job satisfaction, and decreased OCBs. Diversity climate indirectly influenced the relationships between RMA’s and employee organisational commitment, turnover intentions, job satisfaction, and OCBs. Female gender and black racial group membership was associated with a lower sense of diversity climate and increased experiences of RMAs. The current findings suggest a need for diversity climate management for enhancing employee work-place well-being.

Growing in Suffering: The Curvilinear Relationship Between Prolonged Grief and Post-traumatic Growth of Recently Bereaved Individual During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic brought new challenges to mourning and growth of bereaved. The purpose is to explore the relationship between the prolonged grief (PG) symptoms and the post-traumatic growth (PTG) of recently bereaved people during the COVID-19 period, and the mediating role of meaning making. 305 participants were recruited to complete the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Inventory of Complicated Grief, and Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses and Medcurve in SPSS were adapted to test the hypotheses. The results revealed that there was a curvilinear relationship between PG and PTG and meaning making had a completely mediating effect on this relationship. Different intervention goals - whether alleviating distress or cultivating growth - should be set up according to the level of grief for recently bereaved individuals during COVID-19. More attention should be paid to the role of meaning making in the future clinical practice.

Using Time-out for Child Conduct Problems in the Context of Trauma and Adversity

Exposure to adverse childhood experiences substantially increases the risk of chronic health problems. Originally designed to treat child conduct problems, parent management training programs have been shown to be effective in preventing children from being exposed to further adversity and supporting children's recovery from adversity; however, there are increasing concerns that a core component of these programs, the discipline strategy time-out, may be harmful for children with a history of exposure to adversity. To investigate the comparative benefits and potential harms to children exposed to adversity that are associated with parenting programs that include time-out. This nonrandomized waiting list-controlled clinical study was conducted at a specialist clinic for the treatment of conduct problems in Sydney, Australia. The self-referred sample included children with conduct problems and their caregivers. Eligibility was confirmed through clinician-administered interviews. Data were collected between February 14, 2018, and February 1, 2021. Caregivers participated in a 10-session, social learning-based parent management training program. Caregivers were provided with parenting strategies aimed at encouraging desired behaviors through effective reinforcement and managing misbehavior through consistent limit setting, including the use of time-outs. The primary outcome was the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire score, and secondary outcomes included subscale scores from the clinician-administered Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, Adolescents, and Parents. Multi-informant measures of child adversity were collected using the parent-reported Adverse Life Experiences Scale and the clinician-rated Maltreatment Index. A total of 205 children were included in analysis (156 in the full intervention and 49 in the control condition; 158 boys [77.1%]; mean [SD] age, 5.6 [1.8] years [range, 2-9 years]). Compared with children with low adversity exposure, children with high adversity exposure showed greater reductions in the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire score from baseline (mean difference, 3.46 [95% CI, 1.51-5.41]; P < .001) to after treatment (mean difference, 1.49 [95% CI, -0.46 to 3.44]; P = .13) and in the internalizing symptom subscale score (baseline mean difference, 1.00 [95% CI, -2,00 to 0.00]; P = .50; posttreatment mean difference, 0.06 [95% CI, -0.82 to 0.94]; P = .90). No significant differences in the externalizing symptom subscale score were found. In this nonrandomized clinical study, children with high exposure to adversity experienced equivalent, if not greater, benefits associated with parenting programs that include time-out compared with children with low exposure to adversity. Results suggest that time-out was an effective component of parenting programs for children exposed to adversity. anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12617001472369.

Effect of Shiva Samkalpa Sooktha chanting on stress among ayurveda college students: an open label randomized trial design

Backgrounds: Stress is physical or mental tension in response to life demands. In medical sectors, the surplus stress may decrease the students’ abilities to establish good relationships with patients resulting in feeling of clinical dissatisfaction.Methods: In this open label interventional study, 160 students from an Ayurveda college, India who were suffering from moderate stress, after screening with perceived stress scale (PSS 10) were selected. They were instructed to complete the inventory of college student’s recent life experiences (ICSRLE) scale and satva sara assessment. The participants were randomly allocated into two groups of 80 each. Test group was administered shiva samkalpa sooktha chanting continuously for 30 minutes for 48 days at 6 AM in yoga hall of the institution. Control group did not follow any of the practices followed by mantra group. After 48 days; both groups were evaluated for stress and satva sara.Results: Post hoc analysis with Wilcoxon signed rank test showed statistically significant reduction of stress in test group soon after mantra chanting. Mann-Whitney U test showed a difference in perceived stress between groups after mantra chanting; but the result is statistically not significant (U=2446.5, p=0.167). Statistically significant reduction in ICSRLE stress score is observed in test group compared to control group after chanting (U=2268, p=0.040).Conclusions: Short term mantra chanting can reduce the stress among undergraduate students. Reduction is more appreciated in stressors like relationship related problems, time factor and in social isolation factors.

Role of proximal tibiofibular fixation in leg lengthening with the Ilizarov method in the achondroplastic patient.

The role of proximal tibiofibular joint (TFJ) transfixion during Ilizarov tibial lengthening is still debated in the literature. The aim of this study was to show that TFJ transfixion can be avoided with no impact on patient outcome. All achondroplastic patients undergoing tibia lengthening from 1999 to 2018 were included. Patients were divided in two groups: group A (11 patients) submitted to proximal TFJ transfixion and group B (22 patients) not submitted to TFJ transfixion. The results showed a statistically significant difference in proximal fibular migration (PFM) between the two groups of patients, with a mean PFM of 9.2 mm (range, 1-20 mm) and of 21 mm (range, 2.7-76 mm) in group A and in group B, respectively. We can state that PFM up to 41 mm in our series did not affect joint function and stability. There are no statistically significant differences in the other radiological parameters. Analysis of functional scores (Knee Society, Tegner-Lhysolm, Association for the Study and Application of Methods of Ilizarov) did not reveal significant differences between the groups. The scores of the Achondroplasia Personal Life Experience Scale were also similar in the two groups, demonstrating a good quality of life. There are no differences between the two groups in terms of clinical-functional outcome of the knee, radiographic results, and quality of life. Transfixion of proximal TFJ may not be necessary, but it is important to avoid premature consolidation of the fibular osteotomy.

A comparison of memories of fiction and autobiographical memories.

People consume, remember, and discuss not only memories of lived experiences, but also events from works of fiction, such as books, movies, and TV shows. We argue that these memories of fiction represent an important category of event memory, best understood within an autobiographical memory framework. How do fictional events yield psychological realities even when they are known to be invented? We explored this question in three studies by comparing the memory content, phenomenological qualities, and functional roles of naturally occurring personal memories to memories of fiction. In Studies 1 and 2, we characterized the subjective experience of memories of fiction by adapting established measures of autobiographical remembering, such as the Autobiographical Memory Questionnaire (Rubin et al., 2003), Centrality of Event Scale (Berntsen & Rubin, 2006), and items from the Thinking About Life Experiences Scale (Bluck et al., 2005; Pillemer et al., 2015). In Study 3, we investigated similarities and differences in personal memories and memories of fiction for events from childhood or the recent past. In doing so, we observed the impact of a unique property of memories of fiction: their ability to be repeatedly reexperienced in their original form. Taken together, we argue that memories of fiction can be considered similar to other forms of autobiographical remembering and describe a theoretical framework for understanding memories of fiction in the context of other event memories. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

"Early Negative Memories, Humiliation and Defectiveness/Shame Schema: An Emotion-Focused Therapeutic Approach to Social Anxiety"

"Introduction: Recently emotion-focused therapy has developed as an additional approach and considers the role of primary emotions such as shame in the formation and persistence of SAD. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the theoretical model of emotion-focused therapy for SAD by considering the role of early negative memories, humiliation and the mediating role of self-defectiveness/shame schema in the etiology of SAD. Method: This cross-sectional descriptive study recruited a sample of 105 students, 44 males (41.9%) 61 females (58.1%), diagnosed with SAD by psychologists from Shahid Beheshti University Counseling Center. Participants ranging in age from 18 to 34 with a mean age of 23.1 years (SD=3.5) completed the Social Phobia Inventory, Humiliation Inventory, Early Life Experiences Scale, Defectiveness /Shame Schema subscale of the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form. Results: Data were analyzed using SmartPLS-SEM. The results showed that early childhood experiences and humiliation significantly predict SAD. Also, the indirect effects of the independent variables through defectiveness/shame schema on SAD were significant. Conclusions: Consistent with the assumptions of the emotion-focused approach to SAD, these results confirm that early life experiences and humiliation with the development of shame schemes play an important role in the etiology of SAD and must be considered for therapy to be effective. The results of this study suggest that the components of the emotion-focused model can have therapeutic value as targets of intervention in randomized clinical trials."

The assessment of adverse childhood experiences in clinical settings: Practitioner competencies and perceptions.

Issues concerning the screening and assessment of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in healthcare settings have been subject to growing scrutiny in recent years, yet relatively little is known about practitioner perceptions and competencies related to such practices. This study examined practitioner knowledge, ability and concerns about the assessment of ACEs among parents and children in clinical settings and the acceptability of a newly validated measure (The Adverse Life Experiences Scale, ALES) for this purpose. Participants were (N = 144) healthcare practitioners (predominantly psychologists, nurses, social workers and psychiatrists). Measures were completed online, and the effects of family characteristics on practitioner perceptions were tested experimentally using case vignettes. Participants indicated moderate-to-high levels of knowledge and ability regarding the assessment of ACEs, and the ALES demonstrated high levels of acceptability across hypothetical cases involving various levels of risk. Practitioner concerns about such assessment were also found to be influenced by the level of risk indicated by case referral information. Specifically, concerns that assessment would be too upsetting or time-consuming were greater in response to a case with a high level of ACEs, compared to one with low-to-moderate ACEs (p < .05; large effect size). Practitioners demonstrated relatively high competencies regarding the assessment of ACEs and supported the use of the ALES for this purpose. Those families with the highest levels of ACEs may nonetheless be the least likely to receive such assessment in clinical settings.

Exploring Autobiographical Memory Functions in Korean Older Adults: Development and Application of the Korean Version of Thinking About Life Experiences Scale

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a Korean version of the Thinking About Life Experiences (TALE-K) scale and to analyze the characteristics of autobiographical memory function (AMF) in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: To develop TALE-K, a translation and back-translation procedure followed by an understanding test was performed. Then, a survey was conducted to examine the associations of AMF with psychosocial variables using TALE-K, Index of Well-Being (IWB), Meaning in Life Scale for older adults, Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey, and Brief Resilience Scale. Results: Data from 75 community-dwelling older adults were used for the final analysis. The average scores of all three subscales of TALE-K were below 3 points (less frequent than occasionally). The correlation results showed that TALE-K total score was significantly associated with IWB and the Meaning in life scale for older adults. The multiple linear regression results presented that higher AMF was significantly associated with higher IWB, along with having siblings, higher meaning in life and resilience, and lower loneliness. Conclusion: Including a validation study of TALE-K, studies for understanding the characteristics of AMF in older adults using TALE-K are needed.

The Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale and the Inventory of Complicated Spiritual Grief: The Italian Validation of Two Instruments for Meaning-Focused Assessments of Bereavement

Background: Bereavement is an inevitable event that can cause pain, discomfort, and negative consequences in daily life. Spirituality and religiosity can help people cope with loss and bereavement. Sometimes, however, the death of a loved one can challenge core religious beliefs and faith, which has been found to be a risk factor for prolonged mourning. Objectives: (1) Determine whether the Italian versions of the Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale (ISLES) and Inventory of Complicated Spiritual Grief (ICSG) are valid in translation; (2) Evaluate the impact of socio-demographic variables on ISLES and ICSG dimensions; (3) Test whether Complicated Spiritual Grief mediates the relation between meaning reconstruction after loss and integration of the loss experience; (4) Test whether the representation of death as a form of passage or annihilation further moderated the relation between Complicated Spiritual Grief and integration of the loss. Methods: The sample is composed of 348 participants who had lost a loved person in the prior two years. Results: The ISLES and ICSG were validated in Italian and are more appropriately interpreted as having a unifactorial structure. A greater spiritual crisis was manifested in participants with less education, who did not actively participate in religious life, and who had lost a friend rather than a close relative. As hypothesised, spiritual struggle in grief mediated the role of continuing bonds, Emptiness and Meaninglessness, and Sense of Peace in predicting integration of the loss. Furthermore, death representation moderated the impact of spiritual grief on loss, such that those participants who viewed death as a form of annihilation rather than passage reported greater integration of the loss. Conclusion: The role of meaning making in integrating significant loss is partly accounted for by spiritual struggle in a way that can be analysed in Italian contexts through the use of these newly validated instruments.

Measuring Stressors Among Adolescents: Validation of the Positive and Negative Adolescent Life Experiences Scale

This article develops and validates the Positive and Negative Adolescent Life Experiences (PANALE) scale, a 11-item tool that enables researchers to measure adolescent stressors in a more valid and efficient manner than existing adolescent stressors scales. The PANALE presents good psychometric qualities, in terms of construct validity (factorial structure, measurement invariance, and composite reliability) and concurrent validity with regard to eustress and distress symptoms in a French sample of high school adolescents ( N = 1513). Overall, the PANALE provides a viable alternative to existing methods for conducting quantitative research on adolescent stress processes, notably those related to school disengagement and dropout processes.

Capturing the developmental timing of adverse childhood experiences: The Adverse Life Experiences Scale.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with a range of physical and mental health problems, and it is now understood that the developmental timing of ACEs may be critically important. Despite this, there is a distinct lack of methods for the efficient assessment of such timing in research and clinical settings. We report on the development and validation of a new measure, the Adverse Life Experiences Scale (ALES), that indexes such developmental timing within a format incorporating caregivers' reports of ACEs in their own lives and those of their children. Participants were a nationally representative sample of Australian families (n = 515; Study 1), and a sample of clinic-referred families (n = 168; Study 2). Results supported the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the ALES and indicated high levels of acceptability for the measure. In terms of validity, ALES scores were significantly associated with interview-based measures of child maltreatment and quality of the family environment, as well as measures of psychopathology across multiple informants (parents, teachers, clinician-rated). Furthermore, indices of ACEs occurring within specific age-based periods of childhood were found to explain unique variance in current symptoms of child and caregiver psychopathology, independent of the overall chronicity of those ACEs and current adversity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).