Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Development of an ACEs Knowledge Scale

2021 ◽  
pp. JNM-D-20-00117
Author(s):  
Lin Zhan ◽  
Xichen Mou ◽  
Marie Gill
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Content Validity ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Reliability Factor ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
Knowledge Scale

Background and PurposeAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) negatively impacting children’s health and later in their lives warrant necessity to educate nursing students about ACEs. The purposes of this study were to evaluate (a) nursing students' understanding of key concepts of ACEs using the ACEs Knowledge Scale (AKS) and (b) psychometric properties of the AKS.MethodsA survey using AKS was conducted with randomly selected student participants (n = 344) to evaluate students' understanding of ACEs knowledge. Empirical validation of the AKS included content validity using Content Validity Index (CVI), reliability, and construct validity analyses.ResultsThe results showed students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program had increased knowledge of ACEs over pre-nursing students, and the BSN graduating students had increased knowledge related to trauma-informed care and building resilience. There were no significant differences in ACEs knowledge between Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and BSN students. Evaluation of psychometric properties of AKS revealed S-CVI/Ave=0.912, indicated excellent content validity based on the expert panel’s ratings. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = .84 for the overall instrument indicated good reliability. Factor analyses were employed, showing that the 5-factor model gives good fit indexes, supporting the hypothesized factor structure of five key concepts.ConclusionsThe AKS has showed promising implications to future research, nursing education, and nursing practice.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Traumatic Stress Disorders

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damion J. Grasso
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Stress Disorders ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Risk And Resilience ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Adolescents And Adults

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) refer to a broad range of events that can reflect physical or psychological threats to safety, as well as deprivation of basic needs, essential resources, or caregiving necessary for children to thrive and attain healthy development. ACEs can constitute potentially traumatic experiences or nontraumatic adversities with the potential to exacerbate trauma-related impairment or compromise trauma recovery and resilience. This chapter explores ACEs in the context of trauma and trauma-related impairment across the life span. It covers research employing variable- and person-centered analytic strategies for quantifying cumulative and unique constellations of ACEs that probabilistically co-occur, contemporaneously or across development, to influence risk and resilience. Studies examining intergenerational patterns and biological correlates are introduced and progress toward delineating causal risk mechanisms discussed. In addition, several existing tools and methods for assessing ACEs in young and school-age children, adolescents, and adults are summarized. Clinical and public health implications of ACE screening in healthcare, schools, and other settings are considered, as is the clinical application of research on ACEs in trauma-specific prevention and treatment. The chapter concludes with a focus on future research priorities.

scholarly journals Adverse Childhood Experiences and Early Pubertal Timing Among Girls: A Meta-Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (16) ◽  
pp. 2887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Dandan Zhang ◽  
Ying Sun
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Pubertal Timing ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Father Absence ◽  
Family Dysfunction ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Early Pubertal Timing

The association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and pubertal timing has been a topic of enduring controversy. A systematic search of PubMed and Web of Science databases was undertaken to quantify the magnitude of total and specific forms of ACEs effects on early pubertal timing among girls. Our search identified 3280 records, of which 43 studies with 46 independent data sets met inclusion criteria. We estimated pooled effect sizes (Cohen’s ds) for the association between ACEs with early pubertal timing. Total ACEs was not associated with early pubertal timing. When we examined the specific types of ACEs, associations were small to medium for father absence (d = −0.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.63, −0.16) and small for sexual abuse (d = −0.13, CI: −0.17, −0.10) and family dysfunction (d = −0.08, CI: −0.11, −0.02). We identified considerable heterogeneity between estimates for almost all of the outcomes. ACEs exposure may affect female reproductive reproduction, particularly father absence, sexual abuse, and family dysfunction. We propose that future research in this area test a theoretical model linking adversity with earlier reproductive strategy, which includes early pubertal timing as a core component linking early adversity and stress physiology with poor health outcomes later in life in females.

scholarly journals EMOTIONAL DEPENDENCE IN ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS: THE ROLE OF ADVERSE CHILDREN’S EXPERIENCE AND EARLY DYSFUNCTION SCHEMES

2021 ◽  
pp. 143-158
Author(s):  
A. Shyroka ◽  
I. Brukh
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Early Maladaptive Schemas ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Maladaptive Schemas ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Emotional Dependency

Emotional dependency is a persistent pattern of unsatisfied emotional needs, that the individual tries to fulfill in close intimate relationship in particular romantic relationship. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are often identified as a cause of emotional dependency. However, there is plenty of evidence that many psychosocial problems are more strongly associated with early maladaptive schemas (EMS), than directly with ACEs. ACEs and EMS both can have effect on emotional dependency. Such assumption has strong theoretical reasoning, but there is still lack of empirical evidence about the exact role ACEs and EMS can play in emotional dependency. The present study examined early maladaptive schemas as mediators of the adverse childhood experiences – emotional dependency in romantic relationship. The study has cross-sectional design. Questionnaires completed by 128 individuals (78% females) (Mage=26; SD=9), who currently or in the past were involved in romantic relationship. There were assessed 10 types of childhood trauma (The Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire), early maladaptive schemas (Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form) and emotional dependency (Emotional Dependency Questionnaire). The mediation role of EMS was tested by Baron and Kenny (1986) analysis strategy using hierarchical multiple regression procedures. The findings showed that ACEs didn’t predict, but such EMS as abandonment / instability,  mistrust / abuse and failure to achieve did predict emotional dependency in romantic relations (R2=0,44). The experience of emotional neglect mildly predicted schema of mistrust / abuse (R2=0,16). Such results discussed in the context of previous research, limitations that restricted the study’s conclusions and future research recommendation.

A Path to Serious, Violent, Chronic Delinquency: The Harmful Aftermath of Adverse Childhood Experiences

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas M. Perez ◽  
Wesley G. Jennings ◽  
Michael T. Baglivio
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Problem Behaviors ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Childhood Adversity ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adolescent Problem Behaviors ◽  
Adverse Childhood

Adverse childhood experiences can affect the development of a child in many ways, leading to highly maladaptive behaviors, such as serious, violent, and chronic (SVC) delinquency. This study uses data from 64,329 Florida Department of Juvenile Justice youth, collected from 2007 to 2012, to examine both the direct and indirect effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on SVC delinquency. Using a generalized structural equation model, the effects of ACE scores are estimated on a youth’s likelihood of engaging in SVC delinquency while considering pathways through maladaptive personality traits (aggression and impulsivity), as well as adolescent problem behaviors (deviant peer imitation, school difficulties, substance abuse problems, and mental illness). The results suggest that a large proportion of the relationship between childhood adversity and SVC delinquency is mediated by maladaptive personality traits and adolescent problem behaviors. Study limitations and directions for future research are also discussed.

Adverse Childhood Experiences of Violent Female Offenders: A Comparison of Homicide and Sexual Perpetrators

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 2312-2328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawn M. Pflugradt ◽  
Bradley P. Allen ◽  
Amanda J. Zintsmaster
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Female Offenders ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Sexual Offenses ◽  
Violent Offending ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Increased Risk

Adverse childhood experiences are associated with a multitude of health and social problems. In addition to an increased risk of poor health, mental disorders, and substance abuse, childhood maltreatment is also significantly related to adult violent offending. Although gender-specific analyses suggest that early childhood maltreatment precedes later violence for males across offense categories, it is unknown whether this association also applies to different types of female offenders. This study explores the types and quantity of adverse childhood experiences for two groups of violent female offenders: perpetrators of intentional homicide ( N = 28) and perpetrators of sexual offenses ( N = 47). A nonparametric analysis using odds ratios (OR) indicated that female homicide perpetrators experienced significantly more adverse childhood experiences (as measured by the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire) than female sex offenders. Implications for future research are discussed.

Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Language Skills and Promising School Interventions

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-322
Author(s):  
Aviva Segal ◽  
Delphine Collin-Vézina
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Trauma Informed ◽  
Development Of Language ◽  
The Impact

The influence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on the developing child across several domains of functioning has much theoretical and empirical support. Yet, surprisingly, the impact of ACEs on the development of language skills specifically remains somewhat understudied. The present report provides a brief review of research on ACEs and associated impacts on brain functioning and on language skills development specifically. Trauma-informed practices are discussed, with a specific focus on school-based trauma-informed programs. Next steps to explore in future research are then provided.

scholarly journals Adverse childhood experiences research: commonalities with similar, arguably identical, literatures and the need for integration

2019 ◽  
Vol 217 (1) ◽  
pp. 397-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy P. Siddaway
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Needs ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood

SummaryAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their impact cannot be clearly distinguished from other distressing life experiences. Much can be therefore be learned by integrating ACEs research with similar, well-established literatures. Future research needs to explain individual differences in relationships between ACEs and particular variables and locate reliable and strong risk factors for ACEs themselves.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document