This study investigated whether resilience explains part of the link between exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the development of emotional and behavioural problems (EBPs) during adolescence. We analysed data from 2,839 Slovak adolescents aged 13–15 years (mean age 13.93; 49.6% boys) who participated in the 2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey. Mediation was examined using multivariate linear regression with 5,000 bootstrap resamples, controlling for age, sex, and family affluence. ACEs were assessed using an adapted version of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, EBPs were measured with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and resilience was evaluated using the Child and Youth Resilience Measure. Higher levels of ACE exposure were associated with increased EBPs (B = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.67–0.90), whereas greater resilience was linked to fewer EBPs (B = −0.73; 95% CI: −0.79 to −0.67). Mediation analysis indicated that resilience significantly accounted for part of the relationship between ACEs and EBPs, with an indirect effect of ab = 0.25 (95% CI: 0.18–0.32). These findings indicate that resilience contributes to the pathway through which ACEs influence emotional and behavioural difficulties. Interventions aimed at enhancing adolescents’ resilience capacities may reduce the negative consequences of early adverse experiences on mental and behavioural health.
