Pediatria pre prax 2/2026
Cumulative effect of adverse childhood experiences on health risks in adulthood
dysfunction of the primary family. The long‑term negative impact of ACEs on mental and physical health in adulthood is well established, with higher ACE scores associated with increased health risks. In a Slovak sample (N=585; age 18–50), 16.4% of respondents reported an ACE score ≥ 4, indicating elevated health risk. Women and individuals without a university education reported significantly higher ACE levels. Age showed slight positive associations with resilience-related factors, except for social support. The high‑risk group demonstrated poorer health habits — including sleep, nutrition, and preventive behaviors – along with higher stress, more negative outlook, and lower psychological well‑being and social support. No significant group differences emerged in exercise, Type A behavior, positive appraisal, threat minimization, or problem‑focused coping. This study introduces the ACE‑SK, a Slovak adaptation of the original ACE questionnaire, suitable for research applications as well as clinical screening of adverse childhood experiences.
Keywords: adverse childhood experiences (ACE), ACE‑SK, childhood trauma, health risk, clinical screening
