ArticleBMC psychology2023
Exploring adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among Ugandan university students: its associations with academic performance, depression, and suicidal ideations.
Article in BMC psychology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 39 citations in OpenAlex.
- Associations of childhood adversity with emotional well-being and educational achievement: A review and meta-analysis.Journal of affective disorders · 2024Pooled it
- The relationship between adverse childhood experience, resilience, and psychosocial well-being among undergraduates in Osun State, Nigeria.BMC psychology · 2026Article
- Depression, anxiety, stress and adverse childhood experience among first-year university students.Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2026Article
- Impact of adverse childhood experiences on the development and expression of empathy among university students: a cross-sectional study.BMC psychology · 2026Article
- Article
- Adverse childhood experiences and cyber aggression among college students: the mediating role of psychological resilience and the moderating role of physical exercise.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
- Association of childhood adversity and depression with cardiovascular health in youth with perinatal HIV 1 in Uganda.Discover public health · 2026Article
- Depressive cognitions as a mediator between adverse childhood experiences, resilience, and depression in Taiwanese university students.Australian journal of psychology · 2026Article
- The prevalence of depression and anxiety and associated factors among school-going adolescents in poverty and conflict-affected settings in Uganda.BMC psychiatry · 2025Article
- Association between physical activity and academic achievement in adolescents mediated by self-concept and physical and mental health.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Adverse childhood experiences and common mental disorders among young people in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study using WHO ACE-IQ.BMJ open · 2025Article
- Depression symptom severity and behavioral impairment in school-going adolescents in Uganda.BMC psychiatry · 2025Article
- Article
- Adverse childhood events and self-harming behaviours among individuals in Ontario forensic system: the mediating role of psychopathy.BMC psychiatry · 2024Article
- Attitude and Understanding of Artificial Intelligence among Saudi Medical Students: An Online Cross-Sectional Study [Response to Letter].Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare · 2024Article
- "Epidemic" of violence in Brazilian schools and its impact on the health of survivors: a perspective based on adverse childhood experiences.Cadernos de saude publica · 2024Article
- Physical activity counselling in people with suicidal ideation: a secondary analysis of a pilot study in Ugandan primary care settings.The Pan African medical journal · 2024Article
- Physical activity counselling in women with HIV/AIDS and suicidal ideation: a secondary analysis of a real-world intervention in Ugandan HIV counselling centres.The Pan African medical journal · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among university students have been linked to a variety of factors and have been shown to have a dose-response relationship with adult health and behavior.
objectiveTo investigate the effect of exposure to ACEs on academic performance, depression, and suicidal ideations among university students.
methodsA cross-sectional survey among university students at a public university in southwestern Uganda was conducted in 2021, integrating the Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire for assessing ACEs, the Patient Health Questionnaire for assessing depression symptoms and suicidal ideations, and questions assessing the family structure and academic performance as adopted from similar studies. Regression analysis was performed, and 3 models were generated to answer the study hypotheses.
resultsA total of 653 undergraduate university students with a mean age of 22.80 (± 3.16) years were recruited. Almost all students (99.8%) experienced one or more ACEs, with physical abuse being the common ACE reported. The average depression symptom severity was statistically higher among individuals who experienced any form of ACEs. No relationship was observed between the ACEs experienced and self-rated academic performance. Similarly, on regression analysis, the cumulative number of ACEs was not associated with self-rated academic performance (β = - 0.007; 95% CI - 0.031 to 0.016; p = 0.558). However, the cumulative number of ACEs was positively associated with depression symptom severity (β = 0.684; 95% CI 0.531-0.837; p < 0.001), as well as increased the likelihood of suicidal ideations (aOR = 1.264; 95% CI 01.090-1.465; p < 0.001).
conclusionsThe burden of ACEs is exceedingly high among Ugandan university students, highlighting the urgency in strengthening effective child protection strategies to protect Uganda's rapidly growing population from mental ill-health and avoid future psychological disability, a burden to the healthcare system. The study's findings will also be useful to practitioners/policymakers working to prevent/limit child maltreatment globally.
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