Abstract
<p>Background: Exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is a risk factor for the development of both common and severe mental health problems. Interventions delivered before a person has developed a need for care from services could help prevent onset of mental health difficulties. Understanding what makes an intervention acceptable to a young person is key to designing interventions likely to achieve good real-world uptake. This review aimed to synthesise what is known about factors which make psychosocial interventions acceptable to young people exposed to ACEs. Methods: We conducted a scoping review by searching electronic databases (Pubmed, APA PsychNET, Scopus) for studies reporting quantitative and/or qualitative data on acceptability of psychosocial interventions delivered to young people (aged 12-25) with a history of ACEs, outside of clinical services. Quantitative data on acceptability were synthesised using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were synthesised using thematic synthesis. Recommendations based on findings were co-produced with a youth advisory group to inform effective implementation of such interventions. Results: Twenty-four studies from 16 countries describing a range of psychosocial interventions were included. Factors associated with acceptability were: ‘Personal relevance and readiness: the right intervention at the right time’, ‘Accessibility and inclusivity: removing barriers to participation’, ‘Empathic and therapeutic relationships’, and ‘Person-centred intervention content’. Co-produced recommendations for practice included: taking time to understand accessibility needs, investing time in relationship-building, and providing opportunity for participant choice. Conclusion: Findings highlight that interventions which are relevant, accessible, person-centred, and foster positive therapeutic relationships are more likely to be acceptable to young people with ACEs. Review Registration: The review was pre-registered on the Open Science Framework on 12th June 2025 before searches were ran: https://osf.io/ypbd9/registrations</p>