Table 4

Comparisons of adverse childhood experiences among university students with and without depressive symptoms

Adverse childhood experiencesDepressive symptoms*Severe depressive symptoms†
NoYesP values‡NoYesP values‡
Had been hit, slapped and kicked by a parent/guardian.200 (38.2)323 (61.8)<0.001384 (73.4)139 (26.6)<0.001
People in my family had said hurtful or insulting things to me.297 (39.0)464 (61.0)<0.001558 (73.3)203 (26.7)<0.001
Someone had tried to touch me or make me touch them in a sexual way.87 (39.2)135 (60.8)0.001159 (71.6)63 (28.4)<0.001
There had been someone to take care me and take me to medical care when I got sick.636 (50.2)632 (49.8)0.041028 (81.1)240 (18.9)0.03
There had been someone who helped me feel that I was loved and important.647 (50.1)644 (49.9)0.031050 (81.3)266 (19.6)<0.001
  • Values are numbers of subjects (%).

  • *Defined by a Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score of ≥16.

  • †Defined by a CES-D score of ≥23.

  • ‡χ2 test was used.