Background
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) – like abuse, neglect, or family problems – can affect mental health later in life. In Kenya, many children face these challenges, but little research has examined how ACEs affect adolescents in African settings. This study looked at whether the ACE questionnaire works well with Kenyan adolescents and how ACEs relate to depression, anxiety, and bullying.
Methods
We surveyed 2,842 adolescents and young adults (ages 11–25) from 42 secondary schools across four counties. We used statistical analyses to check how ACE questions grouped together, tested the reliability of the tool, and examined links between ACE scores, mental health symptoms, bullying, and background factors.
Results
Higher ACE scores were linked to more depression, anxiety, and bullying, with bullying showing a stronger link among male students.
Implications
This is the first study validating the ACE questionnaire for Kenyan adolescents. Childhood adversity is clearly connected to mental health challenges and bullying. The findings highlight the need for trauma-informed support and further research to identify protective factors that can reduce the impact of ACEs in low-resource settings.
