Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in child sex offenders and associations with health indicators

Manuscript
Published: Jan 31, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/psy_hps.34899
Keywords:
adverse childhood experiences child sex offenders health indicators childhood trauma childhood maltreatment
Constantinos Togas
Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2001-4998
George Alexias
Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9177-9176
Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of ACEs among child sex offenders in Greece and their associations with specific health indicators (e.g., smoking, alcoholism). A cross-sectional study was conducted (between February and April 2023) using a convenience sample of 158 child sex offenders in Tripolis prison, Greece. The questionnaire included demographic and criminal information, the BRFSS ACEs module, and four additional childhood experiences (death of a parent or sibling, etc.). Their mean age was 50.5 years (min=22, max=83, range=61), and the majority were smokers (62%) and had at least one chronic disease (63.3%). Small percentages used drugs (7.6%) and were alcoholics (8.2%). The mean ACEs score was .76 (min=0, max=6, range=6). One out of three offenders (33.5%) had experienced at least one ACE and 6.3% had four or more ACEs. The most common ACEs were intimate partner violence (15.8%), physical abuse (13.3%), and parental separation/divorce (12.7%). Smaller percentages were recorded for substance abuse and emotional abuse (10.8%), incarcerated household members (10.1%), sexual abuse (7.59%), and mental health problems of household members (0.6%). Those with four or more ACEs had a higher likelihood of being smokers (odds ratio=5.97, 95% CI: 1.074-48.335) and alcoholics (odds ratio=1.37, 95% CI: 1.028-1.124). Age was negatively correlated with the ACEs scores (r=-.312, p<.001). In conclusion, these offenders reported many ACEs, but fewer than those found in other studies abroad. Future research should further examine the preliminary findings of this study.

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