scholarly journals How Key Psychological Theories Can Enrich Our Understanding of Our Ancestors and Help Improve Mental Health for Present and Future Generations: A Family Historian’s Perspective

Genealogy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Helen Parker-Drabble
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Three Generations ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Family historians could increase their understanding of their ancestors and themselves and improve the mental health of living and future generations if they consider the psychological history of their forebears. Genealogists could then begin to recognize their family’s unique psychological inheritance that can appear as a result of trauma, depression, or addiction. The author explores three generations of a Parker family branch from Huntingdon/Norfolk, England, to show family historians how such considerations can shed light on their family’s psychological legacy. The author does this by introducing us to her great-grandmother Ann grandfather Walter, and mother Doreen through the lens of attachment theory, and their adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as poverty, bereavement, and addiction. Attachment matters because it affects not only how safe we feel, our ability to regulate our emotions and stress, our adaptability, resilience, and lifelong mental and physical health, but attachment style can also be passed on. In addition, this paper utilizes attachment theory to speculate on the likely attachment styles for the three generations of the Parker family and looks at the possible parenting behavior in the first two, the effect of alcoholism and the intergenerational impact of trauma and depression.

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Brain Development, and Mental Health: A Call for Neurocounseling

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carryl P. Navalta ◽  
Lesley McGee ◽  
Jolene Underwood
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Cumulative Exposure ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Psychotherapeutic Interventions ◽  
Ace Study ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Health Related ◽  
History Of

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study provided compelling evidence that abuse, neglect, and other ACEs are the most potent risk factors for the development of health, mental health, and substance use problems. Such negative health-related outcomes parallel the cumulative exposure of the developing brain to the stress response, with resulting impairment in multiple brain structures and functions. Collectively, these sequelae can manifest during childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. We and others have posited that counseling and other psychotherapeutic interventions need to address the individual's multilayered ecology (i.e., biological, psychological, social, cultural/contextual). Neurocounseling can provide a heuristic framework to more effectively assess, conceptualize, and counsel people with a history of ACEs. We provide an update of the clinical neuroscience of ACEs and its implications for counseling, including how contemporary interventions (e.g., mindfulness) can potentially have positive benefits for such individuals.

scholarly journals The Association between a History of Parental Addictions and Arthritis in Adulthood: Findings from a Representative Community Survey

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esme Fuller-Thomson ◽  
Jessica P. Liddycoat ◽  
Maria Stefanyk
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Relationship

Aims. To examine the relationship between a history of parental addictions and the cumulative lifetime incidence of arthritis while controlling for age, sex, race, and four clusters of risk factors: (1) other adverse childhood experiences, (2) adult health behaviors (i.e., smoking, obesity, inactivity, and alcohol consumption), (3) adult socioeconomic status and (4) mental health. Materials and Methods. Secondary analysis of 13,036 Manitoba and Saskatchewan respondents of the population-based 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey. Sequential logistic regression analyses were conducted. Findings. After controlling for demographic characteristics, including age, gender, and race, respondents who reported a history of parental addictions had significantly higher odds of arthritis in comparison to individuals without (OR=1.58; 95% CI 1.38–1.80). Adjustment for socioeconomic status, adult health behaviors, and mental health conditions had little impact on the parental addictions and arthritis relationship. The association between parental addictions and arthritis was substantially reduced when adverse childhood experiences (OR=1.33; 95% CI 1.15–1.53) and all four groups of risk factors collectively (OR=1.30; 95% CI = 1.12–1.51) were included in the analyses; however, the relationship remained statistically significant. Conclusions. A robust association was found between parental addictions and cumulative lifetime incidence of arthritis. This link remained even when controlling for four groups of potential risk factors.

scholarly journals 1268. Clinic Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences among Persons with HIV: A Pilot Project

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S456-S456
Author(s):  
Priyanka Anand ◽  
Bryce Carter ◽  
Abby Bronstein ◽  
Alexis Schwartz ◽  
Brittney Harrington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Population ◽  
Childhood Trauma ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
History Of Childhood ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
History Of

Abstract Background Childhood trauma has long-lasting implications for adult health as prior work in the general population linked ≥4 adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to multiple negative health outcomes in adulthood. History of childhood trauma is prevalent in people living with HIV (PLWH); however, screening for history of childhood trauma is not routinely performed in HIV clinical care. Methods We conducted a single-center, cross-sectional quality improvement pilot project to (1) define the prevalence of ACEs in PLWH engaged in care and (2) improve linkage with mental health resources. We hypothesized the prevalence of ≥4 ACEs in PLWH would be >21%, the prevalence previously reported in the local, general population. Patients were approached in the course of routine clinical care at an urban, academic HIV outpatient clinic between October 2018 and April 2019 and offered screening for ACEs, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using previously validated tools. Results Forty-nine patients completed the screening. Median age was 48 years [IQR: 37–55]; 69% were male and 53% were gay or bisexual. Most patients identified as black/African American (75%) and white (12%). Median ACEs score was 4 [IQR 1–6], with 51% (95% CI: 36–66%) reporting ≥4 ACEs (Figure 1), and most common ACE being guardian substance abuse (57%) (Figure 2). When compared with men, women had a higher median ACEs score (5 vs. 3, P = 0.04), history of childhood sexual abuse (67% vs. 26%, P <0.001), parent incarceration (53% vs. 24%, P = 0.04), and parental divorce or separation (73% vs. 41%, P = 0.04). Patients with ≥4 ACEs were more likely to have positive PTSD screens (56% vs. 21%, P = 0.02), moderate depression or greater (37% vs. 11%, P = 0.002), and were more likely to accept on-site mental health referral after screening (36% vs. 8%, P = 0.04). Acceptability of screening was deemed “very good” by patients, with median acceptability score 5 [IQR: 4–5] on a 5-point scale. Conclusion Over half of HIV+ patients screened in our clinic reported ≥4 ACEs, more than twice the prevalence of the general population. ACEs screening facilitated linkage of patients with high ACEs scores to mental healthcare. These results highlight the potential value of routine ACEs screening to enhance delivery of trauma-informed HIV primary care. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Adverse childhood experiences

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-11
Author(s):  
Katie Scott
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Alcohol Misuse ◽  
Criminal Behaviour ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood Events ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are events during childhood that are stressful and may impact upon mental and physical health having effects in childhood and future adulthood. Examples of ACEs include abuse (physical, emotional, sexual); neglect; living in a household with domestic violence, substance or alcohol misuse, or criminal behaviour; or living with a caregiver with mental illness. A history of ACEs is not routinely sought in UK healthcare. As a result opportunities to prevent and modify the negative effects of adverse childhood events are missed.

scholarly journals Exploring the health and service utilisation of general practice patients with a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): an observational study using electronic health records

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e036239
Author(s):  
Katie Hardcastle ◽  
Mark A Bellis ◽  
Catherine A Sharp ◽  
Karen Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Service Utilisation ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
History Of

ObjectivesTo examine the relationships between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), chronic health and health service utilisation among a sample of general practice patients.DesignCross-sectional observational study using anonymised data from electronic health records for 763 patients.SettingFour general practices in northwest England and North Wales.Outcome measuresPatient demographic data (age, gender); body mass index; self-reported smoking status; self-reported ACEs; diagnosis of chronic health conditions; current mental health problems; total number of service contacts and repeat medication use in the previous 6 months.ResultsA history of ACEs (experiencing abuse or neglect as a child, and/or growing up in a household characterised by violence, substance use, mental health problems or criminal behaviour) was strongly independently associated with current mental health problems, smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, showing a dose–response relationship with level of ACE exposure. Medication use and contact were significantly greater among patients with high ACE exposure (≥4 ACEs), compared with those with no ACEs. However, contrary to findings from population studies, health service utilisation was not significantly different for patients with increased ACE exposure (1–3 ACEs) and their ACE-free counterparts.ConclusionsFindings highlight the contribution ACEs make to unequal distributions of risk to health and well-being and patterns of health service use in the UK.

Effects of Attachment Styles on the Experience of Equity in Heterosexual Couples Relationships

2003 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 298-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ina Grau ◽  
Jörg Doll
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Intimate Relationships ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
The Other ◽  
Heterosexual Couples ◽  
Secure Attachment ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Equity Ratio

Abstract. Employing one correlational and two experimental studies, this paper examines the influence of attachment styles (secure, anxious, avoidant) on a person’s experience of equity in intimate relationships. While one experimental study employed a priming technique to stimulate the different attachment styles, the other involved vignettes describing fictitious characters with typical attachment styles. As the specific hypotheses about the single equity components have been developed on the basis of the attachment theory, the equity ratio itself and the four equity components (own outcome, own input, partner’s outcome, partner’s input) are analyzed as dependent variables. While partners with a secure attachment style tend to describe their relationship as equitable (i.e., they give and take extensively), partners who feel anxious about their relationship generally see themselves as being in an inequitable, disadvantaged position (i.e., they receive little from their partner). The hypothesis that avoidant partners would feel advantaged as they were less committed was only supported by the correlational study. Against expectations, the results of both experiments indicate that avoidant partners generally see themselves (or see avoidant vignettes) as being treated equitably, but that there is less emotional exchange than is the case with secure partners. Avoidant partners give and take less than secure ones.

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