Adverse childhood experiences among Hungarian and international medical and psychology students: a cross-sectional survey of 420 students

Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are associated with increased risk of mental and physical health problems across the lifespan, yet subgroup-specific ACE data in Hungary remain scarce. This study examined ACE burden among Hungarian and international medical and psychology students. Methods: ACE exposure was analyzed both as a continuous count and as high ACE burden (≥4 ACEs) in a sample of 420 students. Inferential analyses were conducted as complete-case analyses (N = 412). Unadjusted associations were examined using Pearson chi-square tests with crude odds ratios (ORs), followed by stratified Mantel–Haenszel analyses with Breslow–Day tests. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for high ACE burden. Results: The mean ACE score was 2.28 (SD = 2.06). Overall, 77.9% of participants reported at least one ACE and 26.2% reported ≥4 ACEs. Women reported a higher ACE burden than men (mean 2.45 vs. 1.66; ≥4 ACEs: 29.5% vs. 15.4%). In multivariable analyses, female sex (aOR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.14–3.99) and lower financial security (aOR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.02–2.67) were independently associated with high ACE burden. Age group, citizenship, place of residence, and study program were not significant predictors. Conclusions: ACE burden was high in this student sample and exceeded previously reported Hungarian population estimates. Sex and low financial security emerged as the most robust correlates of high ACE burden, underscoring the importance of targeted trauma-informed support within university training programs.