ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES

QUIZ

What is your ACE score?

According to the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, the rougher your childhood, the higher your risk for later health problems. Many adults are relieved to learn that the problems they are having were caused by childhood events that were out of their control.

This simple quiz is a popular tool used by psychologists, sociologists, and health agencies to measure social determinants of health. Your ACE score is a tally of 10 difference types of abuse, neglect, and traumatic experiences you may have encountered in childhood.

Q1

Before your 18th birthday:

Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often...

Swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you?

or

Act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt?

Q2

Before your 18th birthday:

Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often...

Push, grab, slap, or throw something at you?

or

Ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?

Q3

Before your 18th birthday:

Did an adult or person at least 5 years older than you ever...

Touch or fondle you or have you touch their body in a sexual way?

or

Attempt or actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you?

or

Surgically alter your genitals or circumcise you at birth or later?

Q4

Before your 18th birthday:

Did you often or very often feel that...

No one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special?

or

Your family didn't look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other?

Q5

Before your 18th birthday:

Did you often or very often feel that...

You didn't have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, and had no one to protect you?

or

Your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you or take you to the doctor if you needed it?

Q6

Before your 18th birthday:

Were your parents ever separated or divorced?

Q7

Before your 18th birthday:

Was your mother or stepmother:

Often or very often pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her?

or

Sometimes, often, or very often kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard?

or

Ever repeatedly hit over at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife?

Q8

Before your 18th birthday:

Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic, or who used street drugs?

Q9

Before your 18th birthday:

Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide?

Q10

Before your 18th birthday:

Did a household member go to prison?

Your ACE score is:

ACE Score vs Percent Population Gender Graph

A score of 1-3 ACEs is associated with a higher risk for health consequences, and subsequent treatment becomes less effective.

A score of 4 ACEs is associated with a seven-fold increase in alcoholism and doubles the risk of cancer.

A score of 6 ACEs is associated with a 30-fold increase in suicide attempts, and a lifespan shortened by almost 20 years.

To summarize, childhood experiences, both positive and negative, have a tremendous impact on a individual's wellbeing. As such, early traumas are an important individual and public health issue.

As the number of ACEs increases, so does the risk for these and other outcomes:

violence,
risky health behaviors,
chronic health conditions,
low life potential, and
early death.

If you are troubled by your ACE score, seek professional help, and tell them your ACE score.

This quiz is an adaptation of the original ACE study’s checklist.

For more information about this app
email us.

We do not provide counseling or referral services.

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Created by Dan Bollinger.

Developed by the

Hudson Center for Health Equity and Quality

for Intact America.