Childhood Trauma in Men

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? Adult meta: 54.9% ≥1 ACE; 14.3% ≥4 ACEs
Is it more common among men? Lower overall ACE burden than women, although particular exposures vary
Are men at higher risk? #N/A
How much higher is the risk? WHO: about 1 in 7 men report childhood sexual abuse
How often can it be missed? #N/A
Does it show up differently among men? Yes
How might it look different? Anger, emotional restriction, substance coping, risk-taking or difficulty naming victimization may sometimes obscure distress
What commonly occurs alongside it? #N/A
What can it be confused with? PTSD; substance-use disorder; depression; ADHD-related impulsivity
Common screening tool ACE Questionnaire — Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire
Separate screening tool for men CTQ-SF can characterize abuse/neglect types
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