Adverse childhood experiences among Thai youth receiving scholarships from the Equitable Education Fund
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64838/jmht.2026.282177Keywords:
adolescent, adverse childhood experiences, poverty, prevalenceAbstract
Objective: To examine the prevalence and associated factors of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among Thai students from low-income families.
Methods: An online survey was administered to individuals aged 18 - 23 years who were supported by the Equitable Education Fund across four regions of Thailand. Participants completed the Thai version of the ACE questionnaire, assessing experiences related to various types of child maltreatment and household dysfunction. Chi-square tests were performed to assess relationships between ACEs and sex, and among types of ACEs.
Results: A total of 400 participants completed the questionnaire. The mean age was 19.10 ± 1.02 years, and 50.5% were female. Notably, 75.5% reported experiencing at least one type of ACEs before the age of 18. The most common types of ACEs were parental separation or divores (44.5%), physical neglect (43.8%), and emotional neglect (16.8%). Females reported significantly higher rates of emotional abuse and neglect than male counterparts. Household dysfunction, particularly domestic violence, substance misuse, mental illness, and incarceration of a family member, was significantly associated with experiences of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
Conclusion: The prevalence of ACEs among youth from low-income backgrounds was approximately three-quarters. Being female, witnessing domestic violence, and having a family member with substance misuse or mental illness were associated with child abuse. Monitoring systems and interventions focusing on vulnerable families are warranted to mitigate the risk of household dysfunction, child maltreatment, and potential mental health challenges in adulthood.
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