Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are preventable, potentially traumatic events occurring in childhood and are associated with adolescent substance use, poor mental health, and suicidal behaviors. School connectedness can serve as a protective factor against ACEs, but less is known about how it may affect the relationship between ACEs and negative outcomes.

Methods:

We analyzed cross-sectional, nationally representative data of U.S. high school students (<18 years) from the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (January-June 2021; n=7705). We (1) examined the prevalence of school connectedness after stratifying by the presence of seven specific ACEs, and (2) assessed the prevalence of adolescent mental health, suicidal behaviors, and substance use by exposure to each ACE and school connectedness (with or without reports of school connectedness.)

Results:

Lower prevalence of school connectedness was reported among students experiencing physical abuse (39.6%) and food insecurity (34.9%) compared to those who did not experience these ACEs (49.2% and 51.8%, respectively). Prevalence of adverse outcomes varied by presence of specific ACEs with and without reports of school connectedness. For example, students who experienced sexual violence but reported school connectedness had a lower prevalence of poor mental health (51.5%) compared to those who did not report school connectedness (65.3%); similar patterns were found for many of the other examined outcomes.

Conclusion:

Efforts to promote school connectedness and other positive experiences among adolescents may help reduce the negative mental and behavioral health implications of ACEs.