Adverse childhood experiences in families with intellectual disabilities under family supervision orders: An exploratory cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Families with intellectual disabilities are overrepresented in child protection systems. However, little is known about how adverse experiences co-occur in this population. This study examined the prevalence and interrelations of original and extended adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and contextual child and family variables in families with intellectual disabilities under family supervision orders (FSOs). Method: We conducted an exploratory cross-sectional analysis of 128 Dutch case files concerning children aged 0–17 under an FSO, using structured codebooks. Results: Children were exposed to M = 4.4 original ACEs (SD = 2.0); 66.4% experienced four or more. Extended ACEs (e.g., out-of-home placement) and family risk factors (e.g., parental mental health problems, limited social support) were common. Several significant interrelations emerged across child, parent, and resource domains. Conclusion: Findings highlight the need to address co-occurring adversities across family contexts when developing ACE-informed strategies in child protection settings.