View in EDS

Exploring the Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Sexual Victimization in High School Students

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Exploring the Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Sexual Victimization in High School Students
Language: English
Authors: Victoria Y. Dunbar (ORCID 0009-0009-3066-4215), Kristyn E. Widger, Kassie R. Terrell (ORCID 0000-0002-5655-4964), Zhigang Xie, Elissa M. Barr
Source: Journal of School Health. 2026 96(3).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Victims of Crime, Sexual Abuse, Children, Mental Health, Sexuality, Adolescents, LGBTQ People, Trauma Informed Approach, Prevention, High School Students, Child Abuse, Correlation
DOI: 10.1111/josh.70120
ISSN: 0022-4391
1746-1561
Abstract: Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have lasting mental, sexual, and physical health effects, including increased risk of psychological disorders, chronic conditions, and risky sexual behavior. Yet, few studies examine their link to sexual victimization in adolescents, particularly LGBTQIA+ youth. This study addresses these gaps to inform targeted, trauma-informed prevention strategies. Methods: Using national CDC YRBS data, participants included 10,553 high school students who provided information on both ACEs and sexual victimization. The independent variable included ACEs questions, while the dependent variable included sexual victimization questions. Weighted analysis using SAS version 9.4 included descriptive statistics, Chi squares, and simple and multivariable log-binomial regression. Results: Half (50.3%) of all participants reported at least one ACE. ACEs were significantly associated with sexual victimization among teens, with transgender students experiencing the highest prevalence of both ACEs and sexual victimization, compared to their cisgender peers. Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity: These findings highlight the need for trauma-informed interventions and comprehensive sex education on consent, boundaries, and sexual victimization, with particular focus on LGBTQIA+ students who face elevated risk of ACEs and sexual victimization. Conclusions: Teens who have experienced ACEs are significantly more likely to report sexual victimization than peers without such experiences. LGBTQIA+ youth reported disproportionately higher rates of both ACEs and sexual victimization.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1498732
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1498732
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Exploring the Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Sexual Victimization in High School Students
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Victoria+Y%2E+Dunbar%22">Victoria Y. Dunbar</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3066-4215">0009-0009-3066-4215</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kristyn+E%2E+Widger%22">Kristyn E. Widger</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kassie+R%2E+Terrell%22">Kassie R. Terrell</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5655-4964">0000-0002-5655-4964</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhigang+Xie%22">Zhigang Xie</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elissa+M%2E+Barr%22">Elissa M. Barr</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+School+Health%22"><i>Journal of School Health</i></searchLink>. 2026 96(3).
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 10
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Victims+of+Crime%22">Victims of Crime</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sexual+Abuse%22">Sexual Abuse</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+Health%22">Mental Health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sexuality%22">Sexuality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adolescents%22">Adolescents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22LGBTQ+People%22">LGBTQ People</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Trauma+Informed+Approach%22">Trauma Informed Approach</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Prevention%22">Prevention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Students%22">High School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Abuse%22">Child Abuse</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Correlation%22">Correlation</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1111/josh.70120
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0022-4391<br />1746-1561
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have lasting mental, sexual, and physical health effects, including increased risk of psychological disorders, chronic conditions, and risky sexual behavior. Yet, few studies examine their link to sexual victimization in adolescents, particularly LGBTQIA+ youth. This study addresses these gaps to inform targeted, trauma-informed prevention strategies. Methods: Using national CDC YRBS data, participants included 10,553 high school students who provided information on both ACEs and sexual victimization. The independent variable included ACEs questions, while the dependent variable included sexual victimization questions. Weighted analysis using SAS version 9.4 included descriptive statistics, Chi squares, and simple and multivariable log-binomial regression. Results: Half (50.3%) of all participants reported at least one ACE. ACEs were significantly associated with sexual victimization among teens, with transgender students experiencing the highest prevalence of both ACEs and sexual victimization, compared to their cisgender peers. Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity: These findings highlight the need for trauma-informed interventions and comprehensive sex education on consent, boundaries, and sexual victimization, with particular focus on LGBTQIA+ students who face elevated risk of ACEs and sexual victimization. Conclusions: Teens who have experienced ACEs are significantly more likely to report sexual victimization than peers without such experiences. LGBTQIA+ youth reported disproportionately higher rates of both ACEs and sexual victimization.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1498732
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1498732
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/josh.70120
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 10
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Victims of Crime
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sexual Abuse
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental Health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sexuality
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adolescents
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: LGBTQ People
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Trauma Informed Approach
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Prevention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: High School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child Abuse
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Correlation
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Exploring the Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Sexual Victimization in High School Students
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Victoria Y. Dunbar
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kristyn E. Widger
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kassie R. Terrell
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhigang Xie
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Elissa M. Barr
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0022-4391
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1746-1561
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 96
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of School Health
              Type: main
ResultId 1