Intersectionality and Adverse Childhood Experiences: Comparing Subgroups of Sex, Race/Ethnicity, and Sexual Orientation

Introduction: This study investigated the intersectionality of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among subgroups of sex, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation.Methods: Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey across 34 states (N=116,712) from 2009 to 2018, authors stratified subgroups of sex (male/female), race/ethnicity (White/Hispanic/Black/multiracial/other), and sexual orientation (heterosexual/bisexual/gay) to investigate the number of ACEs across groups. Analyses were conducted in 2022.Results: Stratification resulted in 30 distinct subgroups (e.g., bisexual Black females, straight multi-racial males) with significant post hoc differences per group. Generally, those identifying as sexual minority individuals had the highest number of ACEs (the top 14 of 30 subgroups), whereas seven of the top ten subgroups were female. Surprisingly, no clear patterns emerged by race/ethnicity, although the two largest groups (straight White females and straight White males) were 27th and 28th of 30, respectively.Conclusions: Although studies have examined ACEs by individual demographic variables, less is known about the extent to which ACEs are present in stratified subgroups. Sexual minority sub-groups (particularly female bisexual subgroups) trend toward a higher number of ACEs, whereas heterosexual subgroups (regardless of sex) comprised the lowest 6 groups with respect to ACEs. Implications include further examination of bisexual and female subgroups (including specific ACE domain investigations) to identify the vulnerable population. Am J Prev Med 2023;65(1):30-38. & COPY; 2023 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study explored the intersectionality of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among subgroups of sex, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation. It found that sexual minority individuals (particularly female bisexual subgroups) had a higher number of ACEs, while heterosexual subgroups (regardless of sex) had a lower number of ACEs.