Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and its association with mental health outcomes: Cross sectional study

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are pivotal precursors to poor mental health outcomes. However, studies focusing on the Arab/Islamic population, including Oman, are scarce. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between ACE and mental health outcomes (e.g., depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation) among Omani adults. Methods: A total sample of 1,648 adults were recruited from a university-affiliated hospital in Oman using convenient sampling technique. Adverse Childhood Experience International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) was utilized to measure ACEs while CDC Health Appraisal Questionnaire (HAQ) was used to measure the mental health outcomes. Results: The results show that 88% of participants suffered at least from one ACE in their childhood. The prevalence of mental health outcomes as follow: anxiety (10.32%), depression (6.10%), and suicidal ideation (4.61%). ACE level significantly correlated with depression ( p < .001), anxiety ( p < .001), and suicidal ideation ( p = .001). Participants with four ACEs or more have higher odds ratio for depression (10.03), anxiety (3.44), and suicidal ideation (3.93). Demographic factors (except education level) showed significant associations with all mental health outcomes. Conclusion: This study highlights a substantial association between ACE and mental health disorders among Omani adults, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to address ACE’s enduring impact on adult mental health in Omani society