Subscales that contained 5 or more items were scored for severity of exposure to the latent category by determining the number of items with positive endorsements and model parameters. These scores typically fell between values of-4 and +4 and represent mean-centered logit scores. They were recalibrated to range from 0–10, so that total exposure severity levels across the 10 subscales could range from 0–100. Subscales with 4 items could not be scored in this manner due to insufficient item parameters. Instead, they were scored 0, 3, 5, 8 and 10 based on a linear interpolation of number of items positively endorsed.
MACE criterion scores for indicating above threshold exposure within each MACE category were established by comparing MACE severity scores to cut scores of other instruments. Criterion scores were designed to be similar to the ACE (comparator) for the six overlapping categories (sexual abuse, physical maltreatment, emotional neglect, physical neglect, emotional abuse, and witnessing interparental violence). The parental and peer verbal abuse category of the MACE was compared to the Verbal Abuse Questionnaire [46 (link)], that provides separate measures of maternal and paternal verbal abuse, as well as of female and male peer verbal abuse. Maternal and paternal verbal abuse score were averaged and a cut score (>40) was used for comparison. Female and male peer verbal abuse scores were combined and a maximum (male or female) score of 30 (significant level of verbal aggression) and 40 (substantial level of verbal aggression) were used as comparison cut scores [25 (link)].
The Abuse and Trauma Questionnaire that we created and used in previous studies [25 (link),26 (link),46 (link)], provided additional data on 766 of the subjects for establishing criterion scores for exposure to parental physical abuse, peer physical bullying, sexual abuse, witnessing interparental violence and witnessing violence to siblings. This instrument assessed exposure to physical abuse by the question: ‘‘Have you ever been physically hurt or attacked by someone such as a parent, another family member or friend (for example have you ever been struck, kicked, bitten, pushed or otherwise physically hurt)?” If so, they were asked to provide information on their relationship to this individual, the number of times they were hurt, age of initiation and termination of these episodes, whether the abuse received, or should have received medical attention, and whether the abuse resulted in permanent injuries or scars. Similarly, sexual abuse was assessed by response to the question: ‘‘Have you ever been forced into doing more sexually than you wanted to do or were too young to understand? (By ‘‘sexually” we mean being forced against your will into contact with the sexual parts of your body or his/her body)”. Witnessing violence was assessed using the question, “Has an adult member of your family ever purposefully attacked another family member (i.e., struck, kicked, bitten, pushed, hit)?” Followup questions identified the individuals involved, number of times observed, ages of initiation and termination and severity.
MACE criterion scores for indicating above threshold exposure within each MACE category were established by comparing MACE severity scores to cut scores of other instruments. Criterion scores were designed to be similar to the ACE (comparator) for the six overlapping categories (sexual abuse, physical maltreatment, emotional neglect, physical neglect, emotional abuse, and witnessing interparental violence). The parental and peer verbal abuse category of the MACE was compared to the Verbal Abuse Questionnaire [46 (link)], that provides separate measures of maternal and paternal verbal abuse, as well as of female and male peer verbal abuse. Maternal and paternal verbal abuse score were averaged and a cut score (>40) was used for comparison. Female and male peer verbal abuse scores were combined and a maximum (male or female) score of 30 (significant level of verbal aggression) and 40 (substantial level of verbal aggression) were used as comparison cut scores [25 (link)].
The Abuse and Trauma Questionnaire that we created and used in previous studies [25 (link),26 (link),46 (link)], provided additional data on 766 of the subjects for establishing criterion scores for exposure to parental physical abuse, peer physical bullying, sexual abuse, witnessing interparental violence and witnessing violence to siblings. This instrument assessed exposure to physical abuse by the question: ‘‘Have you ever been physically hurt or attacked by someone such as a parent, another family member or friend (for example have you ever been struck, kicked, bitten, pushed or otherwise physically hurt)?” If so, they were asked to provide information on their relationship to this individual, the number of times they were hurt, age of initiation and termination of these episodes, whether the abuse received, or should have received medical attention, and whether the abuse resulted in permanent injuries or scars. Similarly, sexual abuse was assessed by response to the question: ‘‘Have you ever been forced into doing more sexually than you wanted to do or were too young to understand? (By ‘‘sexually” we mean being forced against your will into contact with the sexual parts of your body or his/her body)”. Witnessing violence was assessed using the question, “Has an adult member of your family ever purposefully attacked another family member (i.e., struck, kicked, bitten, pushed, hit)?” Followup questions identified the individuals involved, number of times observed, ages of initiation and termination and severity.
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