Shaped of Difficult Childhood | #Diversity Saturday

More about Shaped of Difficult Childhood | #Diversity Saturday

A young girl with dark hair styled in braids gazes intensely with large, expressive eyes. Her pale skin contrasts with the dark backdrop, evoking a mysterious and haunting aura.

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Approximately **44 percent** of children in Germany have experienced at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE), which includes various forms of abuse, neglect, or family dysfunction. About **21 percent** reported experiencing one ACE, 8.6 percent had two, 5.4 percent three, and roughly 9 percent experienced four or more ACEs, placing them at high risk for psychosocial problems such as depression, anxiety, aggression, and low life satisfaction.

The most common adverse experiences include parental divorce or separation (around 19 percent), household alcohol/drug abuse (17 percent), emotional neglect (13 percent), and emotional abuse (12.5 percent). Serious abuses such as physical abuse affect around 9 percent, and sexual abuse about 4 percent of children.

In addition to abuse and neglect, economic hardship is a relevant factor: Around one third of children face concerns about their families' financial situation, with about 25 to 36 percent experiencing poverty or related social disadvantages. These hardships contribute to stress and reduced participation in social or educational activities, which are also aspects of a difficult childhood.

Overall, it is estimated that **20 to 25 percent** of children in Germany grow up under conditions that significantly strain their psychological and social development, encompassing abuse, neglect, and socio-economic difficulties.

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This summary integrates statistical insights on the prevalence and types of difficult childhoods in Germany.[1][2][7]

[1](https://www.bosch-stiftung.de/en/press/2023/09/german-school-barometer-more-and-more-children-worry-about-their-familys-financial)
[2](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6829158/)
[3](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11927179/)
[4](https://www.savethechildren.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Downloads_Dokumente/Berichte_Studien/2022/CH1527375_Global_Childhood_Report_2021_The_Toughest_Places_To_Be_A_Child.pdf)
[5](https://safeguardingchildhood.com/safe-guarding-childhood/germany/)
[6](https://www.dji.de/fileadmin/user_upload/bibs2018/WEB_DJI_ExpertiseDeutschland.pdf)
[7](https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/fileadmin/files/Projekte/Familie_und_Bildung/Studie_WB_Armutsmuster_in_Kindheit_und_Jugend_2017.pdf)