Variability in the Reporting of Childhood Adversity among Homicide Perpetrators: A Mixed-Methods Study

Purpose: This exploratory mixed-methods study examines how incarcerated homicide perpetrators construct and disclose adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) across structured and narrative reporting contexts. Rather than assuming consistency in retrospective accounts, the study investigates how assessment format may shape the expression, minimization, or omission of childhood adversity. Methodology: Thirteen incarcerated men convicted of homicide completed a standardized ACE questionnaire and subsequently participated in a structured life-history interview. Descriptive agreement analyses were combined with deductive thematic analysis to explore patterns of convergence and divergence across reporting formats. Findings: Marked variability emerged across adversity types. Emotional and physical abuse were more extensively elaborated in interviews, often embedded in narratives of normalization or justification, whereas events such as parental divorce and household substance abuse showed high cross-method consistency. Notably, sexual abuse was endorsed in questionnaire format but not verbally disclosed during interviews. These discrepancies suggest that reporting format interacts with narrative identity, stigma, and contextual factors within the prison setting. Research limitations/implications: As a small exploratory study, findings are not generalizable but provide insight into how violent offenders articulate and negotiate histories of victimization. The results highlight the need to interpret retrospective ACE assessments within their relational and narrative contexts. Practical implications: Multimethod assessments may enhance understanding of trauma histories in correctional populations, particularly when working with serious violent offenders. Originality: By examining variability in how homicide offenders narrate childhood adversity, this study contributes to scholarship on victimization, disclosure, and the complex interplay between early trauma and later violent offending.