Protecting, maintaining and improving the health of all Minnesotans
Adverse Childhood Experiences in Minnesota Appendix Information
Findings and Recommendations based on the 2011 Minnesota
Behavioral Risk Factor Survey
January 28, 2013
Table 1: Estimated Percent of ACEs in the Minnesota Adult Population
Percent
ACE
All
Male Female
Incarcerated Household Member
7
7
6
Sexual Abuse
10
6
14
Drug Use Problem, Household
10
10
10
Witnessed Domestic Violence
14
13
16
Physical Abuse
16
15
16
Mental Illness in Household
17
14
19
Parent Separated or Divorced
21
22
21
Drinking Problem, Household
24
22
26
Verbal Abuse
28
28
29
Table 2: Percent of ACES by Age Group, Gender and Geographical Region
Number of ACES (Percent)
0
1
2
3
4
All Minnesotans
45
22
12
8
5
By Age Group
18 – 24
40
20
13
8
8
25 – 34
38
25
12
9
6
35 – 44
38
22
13
9
6
45 – 54
43
23
12
8
6
55 – 64
46
22
12
9
5
65+
62
21
9
4
3
By Gender
Men
46
23
12
7
5
Women
43
22
12
9
6
By Geographic Region
Metro Area
42
23
13
8
6
Greater MN
48
21
11
8
5
5+
8
12
12
11
9
6
2
7
9
10
7
Table 3: Percent of ACEs by Educational Status and Marital Status
Number of ACES (Percent)
By Educational Status of Respondent
0
1
2
3
4
College Grad
49
23
12
7
4
Some College
43
21
12
9
7
High School
45
22
12
8
5
< High School
36
24
10
7
5
By Marital Status of Respondent
Currently Married
49
22
11
7
5
Never Married
37
22
13
8
7
Other*
43
23
12
8
5
Table 4: Percent of ACEs by Employment Status and Homeownership
Number of ACES (Percent)
By Employment Status of Respondent
0
1
2
3
4
Retired
60
21
8
5
3
Employed with wages
43
22
12
8
5
Homemaker
43
24
11
8
6
Unemployed
28
24
12
8
9
By Housing Arrangement of Respondent
Own
48
23
11
7
5
Rent
32
22
13
9
8
Other Arrangement
42
22
15
6
6
Table 5: Number of ACEs by Selected Social Determinants of Health
Number of ACES (Percent)
Respondent's Worry about Paying
Mortgage/Rent
0
1
2
3
4
Always or usually
24
21
12
12
12
Seldom or rarely
40
23
13
9
6
Never
54
22
10
6
3
Respondent's Worry about Buying Nutritious Food
Always or usually
21
19
10
12
10
Seldom or rarely
32
24
13
11
8
Never
51
22
11
6
4
5+
5
9
8
18
6
13
9
5+
3
8
9
20
6
16
9
5+
20
9
5
28
12
5
Table 6: Number of ACES by Health Status
By Health Status
Excellent
Very good
Good
Fair or poor
By Disability
No limitations
Limitations
Unable to work
0
24
40
27
9
1
21
36
32
11
47
37
30
22
22
18
Number of ACES (Percent)
2
3
4
17
18
18
43
36
35
27
35
30
13
11
17
12
12
15
7
9
7
5
7
11
5+
12
40
29
19
Total
21
38
30
12
7
13
19
Table 7: Percent of Minnesotans with Chronic Conditions by Number of ACEs
All Minnesotans
Chronic Condition
Asthma
Diabetes
Depression
Anxiety
Obesity
Chronic drinking
Current smoking
Health status fair or poor
Males
Asthma
Diabetes
Depression
Anxiety
Obesity
Chronic drinking
Current smoking
Females
Asthma
Diabetes
Depression
Anxiety
Obesity
Chronic drinking
Current smoking
0
8
7
8
5
23
6
11
9
Number of ACES (Percent)
1
2
3
4
11
10
14
14
7
7
6
8
12
19
26
30
10
14
18
26
26
27
29
28
9
10
8
14
20
21
24
28
11
13
11
17
5+
22
8
36
31
32
13
42
19
Total
Prevalence
11
7
15
11
26
8
19
12
7
7
5
3
27
6
13
8
7
9
7
30
10
25
8
8
14
13
30
10
22
14
7
22
14
32
8
22
12
10
25
20
31
20
28
17
8
27
20
35
13
47
9
8
11
8
29
9
21
9
6
10
8
20
6
10
13
6
15
12
22
8
15
12
7
23
15
24
9
19
14
5
29
21
27
9
25
16
6
35
31
25
9
28
26
7
42
39
30
12
38
13
6
18
15
23
8
17
Table 8: Increased Risk for Chronic Conditions based on Number of ACES*
All Minnesotans
Number of ACEs (Ratio to 0 ACEs)
Chronic Conditions
1
2
3
4
5+
Asthma
1.4
1.3
1.8
1.8
2.8
Diabetes
1.0
1.0
0.9
1.1
1.1
Obesity
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.2
1.4
Depression
1.5
2.4
3.3
3.8
4.5
Anxiety
2.0
2.8
3.6
5.2
6.2
Chronic drinking
1.5
1.7
1.3
2.3
2.2
Current smoking
1.8
1.9
2.2
2.5
3.8
Health status fair or poor
1.2
1.4
1.2
1.9
2.1
Males
Asthma
1.1
1.1
2.0
1.7
2.4
Diabetes
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.4
1.1
Depression
1.8
2.8
4.4
5.0
5.4
Anxiety
2.3
4.3
4.7
6.7
6.7
Obesity
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.3
Chronic drinking
1.7
1.7
1.3
3.3
2.2
Current smoking
1.9
1.7
1.7
2.2
3.6
Females
Asthma
1.4
1.3
1.6
1.8
2.9
Diabetes
1.0
1.2
0.8
1.0
1.2
Depression
1.5
2.3
2.9
3.5
4.2
Anxiety
1.5
1.9
2.6
3.9
4.9
Obesity
1.1
1.2
1.4
1.3
1.5
Chronic drinking
1.3
1.5
1.5
1.5
2.0
Current smoking
1.5
1.9
2.5
2.8
3.8
*Ratio = Percent of ACE greater than zero/Percent for zero ACEs
Other State Comparisons
In 2011, Minnesota (the Minnesota Department of Health) became the 18th state to include the ACE module in
the BRFSS survey. The MMWR (2010) report comparing ACE results for five of these states (Arkansas, Louisiana,
New Mexico, Tennessee, and Washington) and the 2010 findings from Wisconsin’s BRFSS are comparable to
Minnesota ACEs results. Tables X shows the percentage of adults reporting each type of ACE for each of these
states. These figures indicate although there may be differences in demographics and regions in the county, the
results for these states are similar.
Percentage of Adults Reporting ACES by Category and State
Abuse
Physical
Sexual
Emotional
Household Dysfunction
Mental Illness
Substance Abuse
Alcohol
Drugs
Divorce/Separation
Domestic Violence
Incarceration
MN
16
10
28
WI
17
11
29
AR
14
11
24
State
LA3
11
10
21
17
-24
10
21
14
7
16
27
--21
16
6
17
26
--23
15
6
17
27
--27
15
7
1
2
3
NM3
20
13
28
TN3
13
13
19
WA3
18
14
35
19
30
--24
19
7
17
28
--29
17
9
24
33
--26
7
7
Source: BRFSS, Modified from: Adverse Childhood Experiences Reported by Adults – Five States, 2009, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (59(4) and Adverse Childhood Experiences in Wisconsin: Findings from the 2010
Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Children’s Trust Fund.
MN – Minnesota, WI – Wisconsin, AR – Arizona, LA – Louisiana, NM – New Mexico, TN – Tennessee and WA – Washington
-- Substance abuse in Minnesota was divided into two categories: alcohol and drug use.
1
2011
2
2010
3
2009
Note: MN ACEs report alcohol and drug use in the home separately. Other states have combined these scores to include both alcohol and
drug use in the home as substance abuse. The number of ACES in MN may be over-represented when total ACEs are compared to other states
because MN reports ACEs for alcohol use and drug use in the home separately. Other states combine these two ACEs and reported one ACE
for substance abuse.
Appendix: Minnesota ACE Questions
I‘d like to ask you some questions about events that happened during your childhood. This information will
allow us to better understand problems that may occur early in life, and may help others in the future. This is a
sensitive topic and some people may feel uncomfortable with these questions. At the end of this section, I will
give you a phone number for an organization that can provide information and referral for these issues. Please
keep in mind that you can ask me to skip any question you do not want to answer.
All questions refer to the time period before you were18 years of age. Now, looking back before you were 18
years of age—
1. Did you live with anyone who was depressed, mentally ill, or suicidal?
1
2
7
9
Yes
No
Don‘t know / Not sure
Refused
2. Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic?
1
2
7
9
Yes
No
Don‘t know / Not sure
Refused
3. Did you live with anyone who used illegal street drugs or who abused prescription medications?
1
2
7
9
Yes
No
Don‘t know / Not sure
Refused
4. Did you live with anyone who served time or was sentenced to serve time in a prison, jail, or other
correctional facility?
1
2
7
9
Yes
No
Don‘t know / Not sure
Refused
5. Were your parents separated or divorced?
1
2
8
7
9
Yes
No
Parents not married
Don‘t know / Not sure
Refused
6. How often did your parents or adults in your home ever slap, hit, kick, punch or beat each other up?
1
2
3
Never
Once
More than once
Do not read:
7 Don‘t know / Not sure
9 Refused
7. Before age 18, how often did a parent or adult in your home ever hit, beat, kick, or physically hurt you in
any way? Do not include spanking. Would you say--1
2
Never
Once
3
More than once
Do not read:
7 Don‘t know / Not sure
9 Refused
8. How often did a parent or adult in your home ever swear at you, insult you, or put you down?
1
2
3
Never
Once
More than once
Do not read:
7 Don‘t know / Not sure
9 Refused
9. How often did anyone at least 5 years older than you or an adult, ever touch you sexually?
1
2
3
Never
Once
More than once
Do not read:
7 Don‘t know / Not sure
9 Refused
10. How often did anyone at least 5 years older than you or an adult, try to make you touch them sexually?
1
2
3
Never
Once
More than once
Do not read:
7 Don‘t know / Not sure
9 Refused
11. How often did anyone at least 5 years older than you or an adult, force you to have sex? (487)
1
2
3
Never
Once
More than once
Do not read:
7 Don‘t know / Not sure
9 Refused
As I mentioned when we started this section, I will give you a phone number for an organization that can
provide information and referral for these issues. Would you like me to give you that number? NOTE: If no local
or state hotline is available, the National Hotline for child abuse is 1-800-422-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453).