Table 1 Construction of Adverse Childhood Experiences

Physical abuse

Did a parent, guardian or other household member spank, slap, kick, punch or beat you up?

Did a parent, guardian or other household member hit or cut you with an object, such as a stick (or cane), bottle, club, knife, whip etc.?

Have you been abused by someone you knew?^a

Abuse

Emotional abuse

Did a parent, guardian or other household member yell, scream or swear at you, insult or humiliate you?

Did a parent, guardian or other household member threaten to, or abandon you or throw you out of the house?

Have you been abused by someone you knew?^a

Contact sexual abuse

Did someone touch or fondle you in a sexual way when you did not want them to?

Did someone make you touch their body in a sexual way when you did not want them to?

Did someone attempt oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you when you did not want them to?

Did someone actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you when you did not want them to?

Have you been abused by someone you knew?^a

Alcohol and/or drug abuser in the household

Did you live with a household member who was a problem drinker or alcoholic, or misused street or prescription drugs?

Have any of your parents abused alcohol or drugs to an extent where it caused problems in the family?^a

Alcohol and/or drug abuser in the household

One or no parents, parental separation or divorce

Were your parents ever separated or divorced?

Did your mother, father or guardian die?

Were your parents ever separated or divorced?^a,b

Have you lost any of your parents because they died?^a

Loss of parent, parental separation or divorce

Emotional neglect

Did your parents/guardians understand your problems and worries?

Did your parents/guardians really know what you were doing with your free time when you were not at school or work?

He/she seems emotionally attached to me.^a

He/she understands my worries and problems.^a

Emotional neglect

Bullying

Were you bullied?

Have you been bullied at school the last 6 months?^a

Have you been bullied in an unpleasant way at school during the last 6 months?^b

Have you been bullied in an unpleasant way at work during the last 6 months?^b

Bullying

Household member treated violently

Did you see or hear a parent or household member in your home being yelled at, screamed at, sworn at, insulted or humiliated?

Did you see or hear a parent or household member in your home being slapped, kicked, punched or beaten up?

Did you see or hear a parent or household member in your home being hit or cut with an object, such as a stick (or cane), bottle, club, knife, whip etc.?

Have you witnessed a very violent event?^a

Witness to violence

Community violence

Did you see or hear someone being beaten up in real life?

Did you see or hear someone being stabbed or shot in real life?

Did you see or hear someone being threatened with a knife or gun in real life?

Have you witnessed a very violent event?^a

Collective violence

Were you forced to go and live in another place due to any of these events?

Did you experience the deliberate destruction of your home due to any of these events?

Were you beaten up by soldiers, police, militia, or gangs?

Was a family member or friend killed or beaten up by soldiers, police, militia, or gangs?

Have you witnessed a very violent event?^a

Physical neglect

Did your parents/guardians not give you enough food even when they could easily have done so?

Were your parents/guardians too drunk or intoxicated by drugs to take care of you?

Did your parents/guardians not send you to school even when it was available?

Could not be established with questions from the West Jutland Cohort Study

Could not be included

Incarcerated household member

Did you live with a household member who was ever sent to jail or prison?

Could not be established with questions from the West Jutland Cohort Study

Could not be included

Someone chronically depressed, mentally ill, institutionalized or suicidal

Did you live with a household member who was depressed, mentally ill or suicidal?

Could not be established with questions from the West Jutland Cohort Study

Could not be included