DefinePK

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have lasting impacts on both mental and physical health, making them a significant public health concern. This study aimed to examine the latent class structure, patterns of co-occurrence, and prevalence of ACEs among university students in Islamabad, Pakistan. After obtaining informed consent, participants were randomly selected from various institutions, and data were collected using the online WHO Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Cramér's V, and latent class analysis (LCA). The results revealed a high overall prevalence of ACEs, with the most frequently reported experiences being physical abuse (65.2%) and exposure to peer or community violence (82.9%). The LCA identified three distinct latent classes: Class 1—High/Multiple ACEs (21.38%), Class 2—Low ACEs (39.26%), and Class 3—ACE patterns characterized by neglect, physical abuse, and exposure to violence (39.36%). These findings underscore the importance of trauma-informed interventions and early prevention strategies within university settings, highlighting the clustering of adverse experiences during childhood.