Irshad Seema, Lone Ayoob
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Alhasa, Saudi Arabia.
BMC Psychol. 2025 Mar 15;13(1):255. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-02565-8.
Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) have been linked to several detrimental health outcomes, including poor mental health. Due to the change from high school to college life and the increasing pressures, university students are especially susceptible to the harmful effects of ACEs. Emotional intelligence (EI) has been identified as a protective factor against the negative impact of ACEs on psychological well-being (PWB).
This study aims to explore and examine the relationship between ACEs, PWB, and EI among university students in Al-Hasa Governorate of Saudi Arabia.
A cross-sectional study was carried out with a convenience sample of 272 university students recruited from different academic disciplines in King Faisal University, Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia. Participants completed a web-based survey in which they were asked to retrospectively self-report on ACEs, PWB and EI. Chi-square and t-tests were performed to examine differences in demographic characteristics, and ACE scores. Linear regression model was applied to predict the PWB and EI from total ACE score and p value was considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.
Only 27.5% of the study sample experienced no ACEs, and 18.01% participants experienced ≥ 4 ACEs. Participants aged between 18-24 years old had a significantly higher frequency of ACEs for emotional abuse (p = 0.01), emotional neglect (p = 0.01), and household mental illness (p = 0.01) than the other age group. Results clearly revealed that participants who had never experienced any ACE's reported better PSW and high EI. Correlation results indicated fair to moderately strong relationship between ACE, PSW and EI. ACE was found significant predictor of autonomy (r = .11, b = -.75, p < 0.01), environmental maturity (r = .15, b = -.90, p < 0.01), personal growth (r = .10, b = -.77, p < 0.01), positive relations (r = .07, b = -.67, p < 0 .01) and self-acceptance (r = .19, b = -1.17, p < 0.01) dimensions of PWB. Appraisal of own emotions (p < 0.01), appraisal of others emotions (p < 0.05), regulation of own emotions (p < 0.05), regulation of others emotions (p < 0.05), and utilization of emotions (p < 0.01) were found significant predictors of ACE.
These findings may have implications for mental health professional and university administration, as students with higher number of adverse experiences need higher level of service and support.
童年不良经历（ACEs）与多种有害健康的后果相关，包括心理健康不佳。由于从高中到大学生活的转变以及压力的增加，大学生尤其容易受到ACEs的有害影响。情商（EI）已被确定为抵御ACEs对心理健康（PWB）负面影响的保护因素。
本研究旨在探索和检验沙特阿拉伯哈萨省大学生中ACEs、PWB和EI之间的关系。
进行了一项横断面研究，以便利抽样的方式从沙特阿拉伯哈萨市法赫德国王大学不同学科招募了272名大学生。参与者完成了一项基于网络的调查，其中要求他们回顾性地自我报告ACEs、PWB和EI。进行卡方检验和t检验以检查人口统计学特征和ACE得分的差异。应用线性回归模型从ACE总分预测PWB和EI，p值在p < 0.05时被认为具有统计学意义。
研究样本中只有27.5%的人没有经历过ACEs，18.01%的参与者经历了≥4次ACEs。年龄在18 - 24岁之间的参与者在情感虐待（p = 0.01）、情感忽视（p = 0.01）和家庭精神疾病（p = 0.01）方面经历ACEs的频率明显高于其他年龄组。结果清楚地表明，从未经历过任何ACEs的参与者报告的心理健康状况更好且情商较高。相关结果表明ACE、PWB和EI之间存在中等强度的关系。发现ACE是自主性（r = 0.11，b = -0.75，p < 0.01）、环境成熟度（r = 0.15，b = -0.90，p < 0.01）、个人成长（r = 0.10，b = -0.77，p < 0.01）、积极关系（r = 0.07，b = -0.67，p < 0.01）和自我接纳（r = 0.19，b = -1.17，p < 0.01）等PWB维度的显著预测因素。对自身情绪的评估（p < 0.01）、对他人情绪的评估（p < 0.05）、对自身情绪的调节（p < 0.05）、对他人情绪的调节（p < 0.05）以及情绪的利用（p < 0.01）被发现是ACE的显著预测因素。
这些发现可能对心理健康专业人员和大学管理人员有启示意义，因为不良经历较多的学生需要更高水平的服务和支持。
