scholarly journals When Problems Only Get Bigger: The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experience on Adult Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcia Novais ◽  
Teresa Henriques ◽  
Maria João Vidal-Alves ◽  
Teresa Magalhães
Keyword(s):  
Risk Behaviors ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Sexual Life ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Childhood Trauma Questionnaire ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that adverse childhood experiences negatively impact child development, with consequences throughout the lifespan. Some of these consequences include the exacerbation or onset of several pathologies and risk behaviors.Materials and Methods: A convenience sample of 398 individuals aged 20 years or older from the Porto metropolitan area, with quotas, was collected. The evaluation was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire that included sociodemographic questions about exposure to adverse childhood experiences, a list of current health conditions, questions about risk behaviors, the AUDIT-C test, the Fagerström test and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–brief form. Variables were quantified to measure adverse childhood experiences, pathologies, and risk behaviors in adult individuals for comparison purposes.Results: Individuals with different forms of adverse childhood experiences present higher rates of smoking dependence, self-harm behaviors, victimization of/aggression toward intimate partners, early onset of sexual life, sexually transmitted infections, multiple sexual partners, abortions, anxiety, depression, diabetes, arthritis, high cholesterol, hypertension, and stroke. Different associations are analyzed and presented.Discussion and Conclusions: The results show that individuals with adverse childhood experiences have higher total scores for more risk behaviors and health conditions than individuals without traumatic backgrounds. These results are relevant for health purposes and indicate the need for further research to promote preventive and protective measures.

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Mental Health, and Risk Behaviors Among Men in the Solomon Islands

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 582-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paraniala Silas C. Lui ◽  
Michael P. Dunne ◽  
Philip Baker ◽  
Verzilyn Isom
Keyword(s):  
Risk Behaviors ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Solomon Islands ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Risk Behaviors ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood

Compared with many parts of the world, there has been little research in Pacific Island nations into the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on adult health. This is a significant gap for local evidence-based child protection. We describe findings from a survey of 400 men aged 18 to 70 years recruited from randomly sampled households in Honiara city, Solomon Islands. Most men reported multiple adversities during childhood (80.7% 3 or more; 46% 5 or more), such as exposure to community and domestic violence, bullying, physical maltreatment, and sexual abuse. Men with multiple ACEs had significantly lower well-being and more psychological distress, recent stressful life events, and health risk behaviors. This study reports the first observation that betel quid chewing increased as a function of multiple ACEs. In comparison with recent East Asian studies, the Solomon Islands data suggest that the collective geographic category of “Asia-Pacific” masks significant intraregional differences in childhood adversities.

scholarly journals Moderating the Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences to Address Inequities in Tobacco-Related Risk Behaviors

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 139S-147S ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditi Srivastav ◽  
Melissa Strompolis ◽  
Colby Kipp ◽  
Chelsea L. Richard ◽  
James F. Thrasher
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Risk Behaviors ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Behavioral Risk ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
The Impact

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can increase the risk of engagement in unhealthy behaviors including tobacco use. Protective factors, such as safe, stable, and nurturing relationships (SSNRs) can potentially moderate the long-term impact of ACEs by helping children build resilience. However, there is limited research on whether the impact of these factors is stronger among Black children and families, who face disproportionately poorer health outcomes compared to their White counterparts. This study examined the relationships among protective factors in childhood, ACEs (one or more vs. none), and tobacco use (smoking tobacco, e-cigarette use) in adulthood, including whether these relationships differed by race. Data were obtained from the 2016 South Carolina administration of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n = 7,014). Using stratified, multivariate logistic regression, the presence of an SSNR in childhood (whether participants’ basic needs were met and whether they felt safe and protected during childhood) was assessed as a potential moderator of the association between ACEs (one or more vs. none) and smoking tobacco or e-cigarettes stratified by race (Black and White). Control variables included sex, age, educational attainment, and income. Statistically significant moderating effects of an SSNR was present for White adults only: The relationship between ACEs and risk behaviors was weakened when an SSNR was present in childhood. Although SSNRs appear to prevent some risk behavior consequences from ACEs among some groups, additional research is needed to understand their potential utility across population subgroups.

scholarly journals Addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences: It’s All about Relationships

Societies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Paula Zeanah ◽  
Karen Burstein ◽  
Jeanne Cartier
Keyword(s):  
Community Violence ◽  
Family Caregiving ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Toxic Stress ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Global Prevention ◽  
The Impact

Recognition that economic, environmental, and social adversity affects health is not new; adversity may result from social determinants such as poverty, community violence, or poor nutrition; from within the family/caregiving environment; or interactions between these complex environs. However, compelling new research demonstrating the profound impact of cumulative early adversity and toxic stress on development and adult health is leading to the mobilization of global prevention and intervention efforts to attain and assure better health for populations across the world. In this paper, we begin with a global population perspective on adversity and discuss priorities for global health. We then turn to studies of adverse childhood experiences to consider current understanding of how early experiences impact brain development and short- and long-term health. Factors that build resilience and buffer the effects of toxic stress and adversity are described, with emphasis on the foundationally protective role of safe and nurturing caregiving relationships. We discuss the implications of these findings in terms of community health and present a participatory research paradigm as a relationship-based method to improve community engagement in identifying and mitigating the impact of adverse childhood experiences on health.

Troubled beginnings: the adverse childhood experiences and placement histories of a detained adolescent population with developmental disorders

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 181-197
Author(s):  
Deborah J. Morris ◽  
Elanor Lucy Webb ◽  
Emma Parmar ◽  
Grace Trundle ◽  
Anne McLean
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Developmental Disorders ◽  
Developmental Disorder ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Adolescent Population ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
The Impact

Purpose People with developmental disorders are significantly more likely to experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), although the impact of ACEs on this population is not well understood. Furthermore, considerably less is known about the exposure to, and impact of, ACEs in detained adolescents with complex developmental disorder needs. This paper aims to explore the exposure to ACEs in an adolescent population detained in a secure specialist developmental disorder service. Design/methodology/approach A retrospective file review was used to explore ACEs and placement histories within a specialist developmental disorder inpatient service. Data was collated for a convenience sample of 36 adolescents, 9 of whom were female, aged 13–20 years (M = 17.28 years). Findings A total of 33 participants (91.7%) had experienced at least 1 ACE, with 58% experiencing 4 or more ACEs and 36% experiencing 6 or more ACEs. The most common ACEs reported were physical abuse (61.6%), parental separation (58.3%) and emotional abuse (55.6%). The majority of participants had also experienced high levels of disruption prior to admission, with an average of four placement breakdowns (range 1–13, standard deviation = 3.1). ACEs held a significant positive association with the total number of placement breakdowns and total number of mental health diagnoses. Practical implications Adolescents detained in specialist developmental disorder secure care had, at the point of admission, experienced high levels of adversities and had been exposed to high levels of experienced and observed abuse. The level of exposure to adversity and ongoing disruptions in care suggests that Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services’ developmental secure services should consider adopting dual treatment frameworks of developmental disorder and trauma-informed care. Originality/value This study explored the early-life and placement experiences of a marginalised and understudied population.

scholarly journals Measuring the Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences by Survey Research Methods

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anikó Ujhelyi Nagy ◽  
Ildikó Kuritár Szabó ◽  
Endre Hann ◽  
Karolina Kósa
Keyword(s):  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
Survey Research ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Survey Research Methods ◽  
The Impact

Background: Child maltreatment has been firmly established as a fundamental risk factor for adult health. However, its quantification poses many questions methodologically, psychologically, and culturally alike. We carried out the first nationally representative survey research in Hungary and in Central–Eastern Europe to assess the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among adults. Methods: Data were collected by an opinion research company using a screening tool of the Adverse Childhood Experiences study. Results: 25% (n = 293) of adults reported any childhood adversity; 5% (n = 59) of them had four or more ACEs. The most prevalent forms of child maltreatment were emotional (5%, n = 59) and physical abuse (5%, n = 59), sexual abuse (1%, n = 12) being the least prevalent. The most frequent dysfunctional household condition was parental divorce or separation (13%, n = 153), followed by household substance abuse (11%, n = 129). Conclusions: Nationally representative surveys on ACEs found a range of overall prevalence of various forms of child maltreatment between 14.1 and 35.2% into which our results fall. Nevertheless, our survey most likely underestimates the prevalence of child maltreatment in Hungary, reflecting the impact of a host of factors influencing awareness. Survey research methods are appropriate to obtain nationally representative data on child maltreatment that not only contribute to designing interventions but can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of interventions to improve child and adult health in the long run.

scholarly journals EFFECT OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES ON DAILY SUPPORT TO FAMILY AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING IN ADULTHOOD

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S235-S235
Author(s):  
Jooyoung Kong ◽  
Yin Liu ◽  
David Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Well Being ◽  
National Study ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Extensive evidence suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can lead to negative health effects across a lifetime. This study examines the impact of ACEs on the frequency of providing daily support (i.e., unpaid assistance, emotional support, and disability-related assistance) to family members and the moderating effects of ACEs in the association between providing daily support to family and daily negative affect. Using the National Study of Daily Experiences II, we analyzed a total of 14,912 daily interviews from 2,022 respondents aged 56 on average. Key results showed that a greater number of ACEs were associated with providing more frequent emotional support to family. We also found the significant interaction effect that adults with more ACEs showed greater negative affect on the days when they provided assistance to family members with disabilities. The findings underscore the long-term negative impact of ACEs on daily well-being in the context of family relationships.

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