Examination of the Factorial Structure of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Recommendations for Three Subscale Scores

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Psychol Violence
• Personal Author:
  Ford, Derek C. ; Merrick, Melissa T. ; Parks, Sharyn E. ; Breiding, Matthew J. ; Gilbert, Leah K. ; Edwards, Valerie J. ; Dhingra, Satvinder S. ; Barile, John P. ; Thompson, William W.
• Description:
  Objective
  
  The purpose of the current investigation is to assess and validate the factor structure of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System’s (BRFSS) Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) module.
  
  Method
  
  ACE data available from the 2009 BRFSS survey were fit using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to estimate an initial factorial structure. The exploratory solution was then validated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with data from the 2010 BRFSS survey. Lastly, ACE factors were tested for measurement invariance using multiple group factor analysis.
  
  Results
  
  EFA results suggested that a 3-factor solution adequately fit the data. Examination of factor loadings and item content suggested the factors represented the following construct areas: Household Dysfunction, Emotional/Physical Abuse, and Sexual Abuse. Subsequent CFA results confirmed the 3-factor solution and provided preliminary support for estimation of an overall latent ACE score summarizing the responses to all available items. Measurement invariance was supported across both gender and age.
  
  Conclusions
  
  Results of this study provides support for the use of the current ACE module scoring algorithm, which uses the sum of the number of items endorsed to estimate exposure. However, the results also suggest potential benefits to estimating 3 separate composite scores to estimate the specific effects of exposure to Household Dysfunction, Emotional/Physical Abuse, and Sexual Abuse.
  
  
• Keywords:
  ACEs Adverse Childhood Experiences Child Abuse Child Maltreatment Factor Analysis
• Source:
  Psychol Violence. 4(4):432-444
• Pubmed ID:
  26430532
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC4587306
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  4
• Issue:
  4
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:2fd0c136d92987de0e45a173cb67505f5e54407bfbee0c551d5baa6ebc54de50
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/34622/cdc_34622_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 609.77 KB ]