Authors
Hiroki Yamada, Toshinori Nakamura, Tomonari Yoshizawa, Kazuhiro Suzuki, Daimei Sasayama, Hideo Honda, Takahiro Tabuchi, Shinsuke Washizuka
Published in
PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences. Volume 5. Issue 3. Pages e70397. Epub Aug 24, 2026.
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to examine the associations between adverse childhood experience (ACE) exposure, adult autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) traits in a nationwide sample, and assess links with specific symptom subdomains.
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using 2024 data from the Japan "Society and New Tobacco" Internet Survey. Adults (N = 29,268; ≥18 years) completed self-reports including the 10-item ACE questionnaire (categorized: 0, 1, 2, 3, or ≥4 ACEs), Autism-Spectrum Quotient short form, and Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale. Logistic regression models assessed associations between ACEs and positive ASD (score ≥ 7) and ADHD (score ≥ 4) screens, adjusting for demographics, health, mental distress (K6), and alcohol use.
Among respondents, 4.9% reported experiencing ≥4 ACEs. Positive screening rates were 11.9% for ASD traits and 7.7% for ADHD traits. ASD traits were only associated with high ACE exposure (≥4 ACEs: odds ratio [OR] 1.29, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] 1.11-1.49). ADHD traits showed a dose-response relationship starting at 1 ACE (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.00-1.31), and increased with greater exposure (≥4 ACEs: OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.45-1.98). High exposure was linked to specific ASD symptoms (e.g., social and communication difficulties) and ADHD symptoms (e.g., disorganization, task avoidance, and hyperactivity).
ACEs were associated with adult ASD and ADHD traits and related symptom subdomains in adulthood.
PMID:
42638933
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 25 Aug 2026.
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