@article{ref1,
title="Adverse childhood experiences and psychological well-being in a rural sample of Chinese young adults",
journal="Child abuse and neglect",
year="2020",
author="Zhang, Lixia and Mersky, Joshua P. and Topitzes, James",
volume="108",
number="",
pages="e104658-e104658",
abstract="BACKGROUND: International interest in adverse childhood experiences (ACE) is on the rise. In China, recent research has explored the effects of ACEs on health-related outcomes, but little is known about how ACEs impact the psychological functioning of rural Chinese youth as they make transition to adulthood.   OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to assess the prevalence and psychological consequences of ACEs among a group of rural Chinese young adults.   PARTICIPANTS AND SETTINGS: 1019 rural high school graduates from three different provinces of China participated in this study.   METHODS: A web-based survey was used to assess ten conventional ACEs and seven other novel ACEs using the Childhood Experiences Survey. Using validated brief measures, six indicators of psychological functioning were assessed: anxiety, depression, perceived stress, posttraumatic stress, loneliness, and suicidality. Descriptive and correlational analyses of all ACEs were performed, and multivariate regressions were conducted to test associations between ACEs and study outcomes.   RESULTS: Three-fourths of Chinese youth endorsed at least one of ten conventional ACEs. The most prevalent ACEs were physical abuse (52.3 %) and domestic violence (43.2 %). Among seven new adversities, prolonged parental absence (37.4 %) and parental gambling problems (19.7 %) were most prevalent. Higher conventional ACEs scores were significantly associated with poorer psychological functioning, and each type of new adversity was associated with one or more psychological problems.   CONCLUSION: ACEs were prevalent among rural Chinese young adults and had deleterious effects on their psychological well-being. Further work is needed to address ACEs by developing culturally appropriate assessment practices, interventions, and policy responses.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0145-2134",
doi="10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104658",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104658"
}