The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Gender and Deviant Behaviour Among Undergraduates in Malaysia

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are recognised as an important risk factor for the development of long-term behavioural consequences, including deviant behaviour. Although current evidence is beginning to address the function of ACEs in criminogenic behaviours in adolescents, the relationship between early ACE exposure and deviant behaviour in young adults has been studied to a limited extent. This study aims to measure the relationship between adverse childhood experiences, gender and deviant behaviour among students in Malaysia. The study uses a quantitative cross-sectional survey design in which a total of 207 participants who had previously experienced adverse childhood experiences completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q) and the Deviant Behaviour Variety Scale (DBVS). The results showed that ACEs were significantly correlated with deviant behaviour and that mental illness in the home was the most significant predictor of deviant behaviour, along with other ACEs. In addition, women scored higher on deviant behaviour than men. The results suggest that the prevention of ACEs could help reduce deviant behaviour in young adulthood.