The Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Conduct Disorder among Primary School Students

The complex correlation between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the emergence of Conduct Disorder (CD) requires in-depth examination to inform targeted interventions and support strategies fitted to the unique context of Chinese children. This study explored the correlation between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Conduct Disorder among children in China.

We employed a cross-sectional design to examine the population within Fujian Province, China. A total of 168 participants were recruited by cluster random sampling method on February 9, 2023. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Adverse Childhood Experience International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) were applied for data collection. IBM SPSS version 25 was applied for data analysis to conduct a multiple regression analysis. Pearson correlations and multiple linear regression were also used to analyze the data.

Adverse childhood experience (Mean±SD=2.208±2.08) and conduct disorder (Mean±SD=1.77±1.35) were investigated. Based on the results, there was a positive correlation between physical neglect (r=0.302, P<0.001), parental separation (r=0.443, P<0.001), domestic violence (r=0.567, P<0.001), emotional abuse (r=0.397, P<0.001), physical abuse (r=0.463, P<0.001), and bullying (r=0.344, P<0.001) with conduct disorder. However, no correlation was found between emotional neglect (r=-0.22, P=0.776), families addicted (r=0.001, P=0.996), families' mental disorders (r=0.016, P=0.840), families imprisoned (r=0.083, P=0.285), sexual abuse (r=0.132, P=0.089), and community violence (r=0.139, P=0.072) with conduct disorder.

Adverse childhood experiences have the potential to serve as predictors of conduct disorder, with factors such as domestic violence, emotional and physical abuse, parental separation, and bullying playing significant roles in its development. The prevention of conduct disorder is influenced by a variety of factors including the child's living environment, parental correlations, and the physical and mental health status of family members. Additional study might be performed to investigate protective variables that may reduce the influence of bad childhood experiences on behaviour problems.