Work

Onset, frequency, and temporal ordering of chronic adverse childhood experiences in adolescents adjudicated for sexual offences

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Extant literature compellingly demonstrates the prevalence and importance of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in youth adjudicated for the perpetration of sexual offences. Most of this research is limited to a count derived from a checklist of 10 dichotomous (never/ever) variables. OBJECTIVE: Given the preponderance of evidence supporting the presence of adversity, it is necessary to now extend our understanding to the investigation of the onset, frequency, and temporal ordering of adverse experiences to examine potential implications for life outcomes and points of intervention. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: This paper focuses on the experiences of 20 Australian adolescents who were adjudicated for sexual offences and had experienced severely adverse childhoods characterised by abuse, neglect, maltreatment, dysfunctional households, caregiver inconsistency, and residential instability. METHOD: An ACE Matrix was created for each participant and the onset, frequency, and duration of each ACE was plotted to facilitate visualisation of their experience of abuse and maltreatment over time. RESULTS: Our results revealed frequent changes in accommodation and primary caregiver and a striking concentration of abuse and neglect before the participants had started primary school. CONCLUSIONS: Early detection of ACEs, appropriate and timely intervention, as well as identification and prevention of unintended collateral consequences of justice system involvement for adolescents is discussed.

Source: Child Abuse & Neglect

DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107256