PhD Scientific Days 2026

Mental Health Sciences 3.

Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE–IQ): Hungarian adaptation

Name of the presenter

Nagy, Krisztina Anna

Institute/workplace of the presenter

Semmelweis Egyetem Doktori Iskola Mentális Egészségtudományi Tagozat Interdiszciplináris Társadalomtudományok Doktori Program

Authors

Nagy Krisztina Anna¹, Bákonyi Dzsenifer², Csőgér Lilla³, Kulcsár Gabriella⁴, Fekete-Gál Martina⁵, Makara Mihály⁶, Matuszka Balázs⁷
1: Semmelweis Egyetem Doktori Iskola Mentális Egészségtudományi Tagozat Interdiszciplináris Társadalomtudományok Doktori Program
2: Debreceni Egyetem Pszichológiai Intézet
3: Benedek Elek Óvoda
4: Kriminológiai és Büntetés-végrehajtási Jogi Tanszék
5: Európai Prevenciós és Terápiás Medicina Alapítvány
6: Dél-Pesti Centrumkórház, Szent László Kórház telephely, Központi Felnőtt Szakrendelő
7: Pázmány Péter Katolikus Egyetem - BTK Pszichológiai Intézet

Text of the abstract

Introduction: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are adversities (e.c. abuse, neglect) occurring directly to a child or within their family and environment. These experiences cumulatively and individually can cause long-term detrimental effects on physical and psychological development. Since the 1998 ACE Study, research has focused on the neurobiological and health-related consequences of ACEs. Meanwhile, more tools were developed to assess these experiences; one is the ACE-IQ, developed by the WHO for a more nuanced and reliable measurement by expanding the original ACEs with 3 environmental adversities.
Aim: To date, no large-sample study has been conducted in the Hungarian population employing the ACE-IQ to assess ACEs. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to validate the Hungarian version of the ACE-IQ and to examine its reliability and validity, thereby enabling its future application in research and clinical practice.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted (N=1201, 62.5% female, aged 18-91 years) on adult Hungarian population via family doctors in 2022, using the ACE-IQ, BCE scale, and standardized measures for depression (BDI), hopelessness (HS), and life satisfaction (SWLS). Construct and concurrent validity were assessed using Spearman correlations and two ordinal logistic regression models.
Results: Correlations confirmed significant associations between ACE-IQ and BDI (r​=0.245), HS (r​=0.182) and SWLS (r​=−0.241, all p<.001). The regression model revealed that BCEs significantly predict lower ACE-IQ scores, with a safe adult (OR=4.03) and predictable routines (OR=3.19) most strongly associated with reduced ACEs. Reciprocally, the absence of specific ACEs predicted higher BCEs; emotional neglect (OR=3.86) and bullying (OR=3.42) were the most significant predictors of diminished protective factors.
Conclusion: The results provide strong evidence for the validity of the ACE-IQ. The results show that specific adversities in childhood significantly undermine essential protective factors. These findings support the utility of the ACE-IQ as a robust tool for identifying clinical risk and informing resilience-based interventions.
Funding: The research received no funding.
Keywords: adverse childhood experiences, validation, adaptation, psychometry