TY - JOUR

T1 - Exploring the intergenerational continuity of ACEs amongst a sample of Welsh male prisoners: A retrospective cross-sectional study

AU - Ford, Kat

AU - Bellis, Mark

AU - Hughes, Karen

AU - Judd, Natasha

AU - Barton, Emma

PY - 2024/12

Y1 - 2024/12

N2 - BackgroundThe relationship between parent and child adverse childhood experience (ACE) exposure remains underexplored, particularly within justice-involved samples.ObjectiveThis objective of the study was to examine the intergenerational continuity of ACEs within a UK prison population.Participants294 males aged 18–69 years in a Welsh prison, with father reported data for 671 children they had fathered.MethodsA face-to-face ACE questionnaire measured exposure to 10 ACE types. For each child they had fathered participants were asked to report their child's gender, age and their exposure before the age of 18 to the same ACE types, except having a household member incarcerated.FindingsPaternal ACE exposure was found to increase the risk of child ACE exposure, both to multiple ACEs and individual ACE types. Compared to children of fathers with no ACEs, those of fathers with 4+ were almost three times more likely to have been exposed to 2–3 ACEs and six times more likely to be exposed to 4+ ACEs. The risk of a child residing in a household where mental illness was present was 7.4 times higher where their father had 4+ ACEs.ConclusionFindings highlight the need for prevention interventions to break the intergenerational continuity of ACEs. Further research is needed to explore what protects against the intergenerational continuity of ACEs. Criminal justice systems and wider services need to ensure that they support those incarcerated alongside their families who are at high risk of ACEs and consequently poorer education, health and criminal justice outcomes.

AB - BackgroundThe relationship between parent and child adverse childhood experience (ACE) exposure remains underexplored, particularly within justice-involved samples.ObjectiveThis objective of the study was to examine the intergenerational continuity of ACEs within a UK prison population.Participants294 males aged 18–69 years in a Welsh prison, with father reported data for 671 children they had fathered.MethodsA face-to-face ACE questionnaire measured exposure to 10 ACE types. For each child they had fathered participants were asked to report their child's gender, age and their exposure before the age of 18 to the same ACE types, except having a household member incarcerated.FindingsPaternal ACE exposure was found to increase the risk of child ACE exposure, both to multiple ACEs and individual ACE types. Compared to children of fathers with no ACEs, those of fathers with 4+ were almost three times more likely to have been exposed to 2–3 ACEs and six times more likely to be exposed to 4+ ACEs. The risk of a child residing in a household where mental illness was present was 7.4 times higher where their father had 4+ ACEs.ConclusionFindings highlight the need for prevention interventions to break the intergenerational continuity of ACEs. Further research is needed to explore what protects against the intergenerational continuity of ACEs. Criminal justice systems and wider services need to ensure that they support those incarcerated alongside their families who are at high risk of ACEs and consequently poorer education, health and criminal justice outcomes.

U2 - 10.1016/j.chipro.2024.100053

DO - 10.1016/j.chipro.2024.100053

M3 - Article

VL - 3

JO - Child Protection and Practice

JF - Child Protection and Practice

M1 - 100053

ER -