scholarly journals The adverse childhood experiences questionnaire: Two decades of research on childhood trauma as a primary cause of adult mental illness, addiction, and medical diseases

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1581447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily M. Zarse ◽  
Mallory R. Neff ◽  
Rachel Yoder ◽  
Leslie Hulvershorn ◽  
Joanna E. Chambers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Childhood Trauma ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood

scholarly journals A qualitative bounded case study on teacher and administrator perceptions of students' adverse childhood experiences in rural, northwest Missouri elementary school

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Rebecca A. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Elementary Schools ◽  
Childhood Trauma ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Administrator Perceptions ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Perceptions Of Students ◽  
Trauma Informed

The purpose of this bounded case study (Merriam and Tisdell, 2016) was to add to the existing research literature on early childhood trauma in addition to understanding teacher and administrator perceptions on students' adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in rural, Northwest Missouri elementary schools from 2009 through 2019. Survey participants (n=31), consisting of kindergarten through third grade teachers and elementary administrators completed surveys on their perceptions of students' ACEs within their school districts. Interview participants (n=11), consisting of kindergarten through third-grade teachers and elementary principals, shared their perceptions and lived experiences of students' ACEs. Teachers and administrators noticed the most adverse childhood experiences K - 3rd grade children in rural Missouri elementary schools were exposed to include: (a) divorce, (b) substance abuse, (c) mental illness, (d) physical abuse, and (e) emotional neglect. Three themes emerged from the study: (1) the family system included household dysfunction that may include impactful events such as divorce, substance abuse, and mental illness (2) increase of teachers' and administrators' awareness of trauma, and (3) resources and supports. Teachers and administrators noticed an increase in continued trauma perceived to be because of unstable family conditions systems described by Urie Bronfenbrenner's (1970) human ecological systems theory as the microsystem. Suggested implications for teachers, administrators included: (1) an increase of teacher and administrator awareness of trauma, (2) trauma-informed training opportunities through the Missouri Trauma Informed School Initiative for teachers and administrators, (3) a curriculum focus on children's social emotional development, (4) additional youth mental health resources and support for families and school district personnel, and (5) developing and implementing a mentor program partnering teachers and administrators with families in crisis. Additionally, results from the study could aid in helping the MASA, MAESP, and MSTA consider new evidence related to student trauma in rural public elementary schools. This may lead to an opportunity for these professional organizations to review their structures in order to collaborate to create a more robust and meaningful dialogue about childhood trauma. These educational discussions may lead to compelling evidence suggesting adjustments in legislation to support children impact by adverse childhood experiences.

scholarly journals Associations between adverse childhood experiences and acquired brain injury, including traumatic brain injuries, among adults: 2014 BRFSS North Carolina

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 514-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angie S Guinn ◽  
Katie A Ports ◽  
Derek C Ford ◽  
Matt Breiding ◽  
Melissa T Merrick
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
North Carolina ◽  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Acquired Brain Injury ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
The Relationship

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can negatively affect lifelong health and opportunity. Acquired brain injury (ABI), which includes traumatic brain injury (TBI) as well as other causes of brain injury, is a health condition that affects millions annually. The present study uses data from the 2014 North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to examine the relationship between ACEs and ABI. The study sample included 3454 participants who completed questions on both ABI and ACEs. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the relationship between ACEs and ABI as well as ACEs and TBI. Sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, household mental illness and household substance abuse were significantly associated with ABI after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, gender and employment. Compared with those reporting no ACEs, individuals reporting three ACEs had 2.55 times the odds of having experienced an ABI; individuals reporting four or more ACEs had 3.51 times the odds of having experienced an ABI. Examining TBI separately, those who experienced sexual abuse, physical abuse, household mental illness and had incarcerated household members in childhood had greater odds of reported TBI, after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, gender and income. Respondents reporting three ACEs (AOR=4.16, 95% CI (1.47 to 11.76)) and four or more ACEs (AOR=3.39, 95% CI (1.45 to 7.90)) had significantly greater odds of reporting TBI than respondents with zero ACEs. Prevention of early adversity may reduce the incidence of ABI; however, additional research is required to elucidate the potential pathways from ACEs to ABI, and vice versa.

scholarly journals The Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Payatas, an Urban Poor Community in the Philippines

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 24-32
Author(s):  
Yanro Judd C. Ferrer ◽  
Roy Moore
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Trauma ◽  
Teen Pregnancy ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Urban Poor ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Root Cause ◽  
Adverse Childhood

This paper aimed to determine the prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in Payatas, an urban poor community in Quezon City, Philippines. In total, 260 people were surveyed in two areas of Payatas. The results of these surveys were then compared with existing ACE Surveys in other communities. Results found that ACEs were reported at significantly higher levels than in existing surveys, which were typically made of Middle-Class populations. The discrepancy grew at higher ACE Scores. Moderate childhood trauma, ACE Scores of 4 or more, was reported as two to five times more common in our Payatas populations than in the existing survey populations. Severe childhood trauma Scores are less available; however, these trends appear to grow at higher ACE Scores. These results suggest that ACEs are far more common in urban poor communities. That ACE Scores are higher in poorer communities is not a surprising finding. However, the scale of the problem is highly significant. As ACEs are a major root cause of many social problems, including, but not limited to, addiction, teen pregnancy, domestic violence, depression, attempted suicide, and drug abuse, it does indicate a strong area for effective support. The potential for improving the well-being, quality of life, and life expectancy through this framework is large, provided appropriate investment is made in these communities.  

scholarly journals Health and financial burden of adverse childhood experiences in England and Wales: a combined primary data study of five surveys

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. e036374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Hughes ◽  
Kat Ford ◽  
Rajendra Kadel ◽  
Catherine A Sharp ◽  
Mark A Bellis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
High Body Mass Index ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Financial Costs ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Anxiety Depression

ObjectiveTo estimate the health and financial burden of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in England and Wales.DesignThe study combined data from five randomly stratified cross-sectional ACE studies. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated for major health risks and causes of ill health and applied to disability adjusted life years (DALYs), with financial costs estimated using a modified human capital method.SettingHouseholds in England and Wales.Participants15 285 residents aged 18–69.Outcome measuresThe outcome measures were PAFs for single (1 ACE) and multiple (2–3 and ≥4 ACEs) ACE exposure categories for four health risks (smoking, alcohol use, drug use, high body mass index) and nine causes of ill health (cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, violence, anxiety, depression, other mental illness); and annual estimated DALYs and financial costs attributable to ACEs.ResultsCumulative relationships were found between ACEs and risks of all outcomes. For health risks, PAFs for ACEs were highest for drug use (Wales 58.8%, England 52.6%), although ACE-attributable smoking had the highest estimated costs (England and Wales, £7.8 billion). For causes of ill health, PAFs for ACEs were highest for violence (Wales 48.9%, England 43.4%) and mental illness (ranging from 29.1% for anxiety in England to 49.7% for other mental illness in Wales). The greatest ACE-attributable costs were for mental illness (anxiety, depression and other mental illness; England and Wales, £11.2 billion) and cancer (£7.9 billion). Across all outcomes, the total annual ACE-attributable cost was estimated at £42.8 billion. The majority of costs related to exposures to multiple rather than a single ACE (ranging from 71.9% for high body mass index to 98.3% for cancer).ConclusionsACEs impose a substantial societal burden in England and Wales. Policies and practices that prevent ACEs, build resilience and develop trauma-informed services are needed to reduce burden of disease and avoidable service use and financial costs across health and other sectors.

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Smoking and Mental Illness in Adulthood: A Preliminary Study

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristi A. Sacco ◽  
Tony P. George ◽  
Cory A. Head ◽  
Jennifer C. Vessicchio ◽  
Caroline J. Easton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Preliminary Study

scholarly journals Serving-Up the ACE: Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (“ACE”) in Dependency Adoption Through the Lens of Social Science

2021 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Hawkins ◽  
Taylor Scribner
Keyword(s):  
Foster Care ◽  
Childhood Trauma ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
The United States ◽  
Court System ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Foster Care Adoption

Almost certainly, every child who enters the foster care system has endured some sort of trauma. It is unrefuted that childhood trauma correlates with mental, physical, and behavioral problems well into adulthood. In 1998, one of the first major studies of the relationship between certain forms of childhood trauma and adult behavior and disease was reported. Collectively, these traumas are called “Adverse Childhood Experiences” (ACE). Today ACE refers to ten common forms of trauma that individuals may have experienced as children. To put this issue in perspective, it is currently estimated that 34.8 million children in the United States are affected by ACE, two out of three adults have one or more ACE, and one out of eight adults have four or more ACE. Since the original study, several studies have been published linking ACE to detrimental lifelong effects relating to mental health, chronic health, and behavior patterns. Despite this, the consideration of ACE in family law and child welfare-related cases is a relatively new concept in courts across the country. This Article summarizes the research on ACE and how this research has become integrated into the courtroom, using the Florida court system as an example. In addition, in a novel approach, this article will articulate how ACE research and findings can be utilized in foster care adoption.

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