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.

Adverse childhood experiences, mental health, and quality of life of Chilean girls placed in foster care: An exploratory study.

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annina Seiler ◽  
Stefanie Kohler ◽  
Martina Ruf-Leuschner ◽  
Markus A. Landolt
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Foster Care ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood

scholarly journals Adverse Childhood Experiences, Health‐Related Quality of Life, and Chronic Disease Risks in Rural Areas of the United States

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Chanlongbutra ◽  
Gopal K. Singh ◽  
Curt D. Mueller
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
The United States ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is associated with increased odds of high‐risk behaviors and adverse health outcomes. This study examined whether ACE exposure among individuals living in rural areas of the United States is associated with adult activity limitations, self‐reported general poor health status, chronic diseases, and poor mental health. Data from the 2011 and 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (N=79,810) from nine states were used to calculate the prevalence of ACEs in rural and urban areas. ACE scores were determined by summing 11 survey items. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association between ACE scores and health outcomes, including self‐reported general health status, chronic diseases, and health‐related quality of life. Approximately 55.4% of rural respondents aged ≥18 years reported at least one ACE and 14.7% reported experiencing ≥4 ACEs in their childhood, compared to 59.5% of urban residents who reported at least one ACE and 15.5% reporting ≥4 ACEs. After adjusting for sociodemographic covariates, compared to rural respondents who never reported an ACE, rural respondents who experienced ≥1 ACEs had increased odds of reporting fair/poor general health, activity limitations, and heart disease, which is consistent with previous studies. The odds of experiencing a heart attack were higher for rural residents reporting 2 and ≥4 ACEs; the odds of diabetes were higher for those with 3 ACEs; and the odds of ever having asthma or poor mental health was higher for those with ≥3 ACEs. Although individuals in rural areas are less likely to experience ACEs, over half of rural respondents reported experiencing an ACE in childhood. Programs aimed at preventing ACEs, including child maltreatment, can benefit rural areas by reducing adult morbidity and increasing quality of life.

scholarly journals Adverse childhood experiences and behavioral problems in middle childhood

2017 ◽  
Vol 67 ◽  
pp. 391-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tenah K.A. Hunt ◽  
Kristen S. Slack ◽  
Lawrence M. Berger
Keyword(s):  
Middle Childhood ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Intimate Partner Violence; Findings From a Community Sample of Hispanic Young Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110358
Author(s):  
Myriam Forster ◽  
Christopher J. Rogers ◽  
Bethany Rainisch ◽  
Timothy Grigsby ◽  
Carmen De La Torre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
The United States ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
History Of

In the United States, a substantial proportion of the adult population (36% of women and 34% of men) from all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds report experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) over the life course. Family risk factors have been linked to adolescent and young adult IPV involvement, yet few studies have examined the effect of multiple, co-occurring adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the stability and change of IPV behaviors over young adulthood—the period of highest risk for IPV. We investigated the relationship between the degree of ACE exposure and IPV victimization and perpetration at age 22 and two years later at age 24 among a sample of Hispanic young adults ( N= 1,273) in Southern California. Negative binomial regression models compared the incident rate ratio (IRR) of past-year verbal and physical IPV victimization and perpetration of respondents with 1–3 ACE and with ≥4 ACE to their peers who reported no history of ACE cross-sectionally (age 22) and longitudinally (age 24). At age 22, participants with 1–3 and ≥4 ACE were overrepresented in all IPV behaviors and had higher IRRs of verbal and physical victimization and perpetration compared to their peers with no ACE. By age 24, respondents with a history of ≥4 ACE were at significantly greater risk for escalating IPV behaviors over this time period than their peers with 1–3 ACE and no ACE. These findings highlight the importance of investing in coordinated efforts to develop strategies that help young people cope with the downstream effects of early life adversity. Research should continue to identify what individual, community, and cultural assets that promote resilience and are promising foci of IPV prevention approaches among vulnerable populations.

Association of Adverse Childhood Experiences With Childhood Atopic Dermatitis in the United States

Dermatitis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-152
Author(s):  
Costner McKenzie ◽  
Jonathan I. Silverberg
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Atopic Dermatitis ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
The United States ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Alcohol Use in Adulthood, and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Perpetration by Black Men: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
pp. 152483802095310
Author(s):  
Kerry A. Lee ◽  
Charlotte Lyn Bright ◽  
Gail Betz
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
The United States ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Ipv Perpetration

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious social and public health problem in the United States. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and alcohol use have been found to be associated with IPV perpetration; however, limited studies have examined the interrelationships of these variables among Black men. This is the first known study to systematically review and synthesize studies on the interrelationships of ACEs, alcohol use, and IPV perpetration among Black men. Comprehensive literature searches were conducted in PubMed and six EBSCOhost databases by a research librarian and two researchers. Twenty studies met inclusion criteria: empirical; available in English; included ACEs, alcohol use/substance abuse, and IPV perpetration variables in the analyses; and samples included Black/African American male IPV perpetrators aged ≥ 18 years. ACEs were found to be associated with IPV perpetration among Black men, but findings were mixed regarding the role of alcohol in relation to ACEs and IPV. Numerous ACE factors (1–6) were used across studies. However, findings regarding the co-occurrence of ACE factors are inconclusive because none of the studies examined the cumulative effects of exposure to more than one type of ACE on subsequent IPV perpetration. Implications for policy, practice, and research related to the interrelationships of ACEs, alcohol use, and IPV perpetration are provided. Future work is needed to better explicate the interrelationships among these constructs.

scholarly journals The interaction of adverse childhood experiences and gender as risk factors for depression and anxiety disorders in US adults: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C. Whitaker ◽  
Tracy Dearth-Wesley ◽  
Allison N. Herman ◽  
Amy E. Block ◽  
Mary Howard Holderness ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Emotional Abuse ◽  
Short Form ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood

Abstract Background Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and being female are distinct risk factors for having a major depressive episode (MDE) or an anxiety disorder (AD) in adulthood, but it is unclear whether these two risk factors are synergistic. The purpose of this study was to determine whether exposure to ACEs and being female are more than additive (synergistic) in their association with MDE and AD in US adults. Methods We pooled cross-sectional survey data in the Midlife in the United States study from two nationally-representative cohorts of English-speaking US adults. Data from the first cohort were collected in 2004–2006 and from the second in 2011–2014. Data from both cohorts included the 12-month prevalence of MDE and AD (generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder) assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form, gender (here termed female and male), and the count of five categories of exposure to ACEs: physical, sexual, or emotional abuse; household alcohol or substance abuse; and parental separation or divorce. Results Of the 5834 survey respondents, 4344 (74.5%) with complete data on ACEs were included in the analysis. Mean (SD) age was 54.1 (13.8) years and 53.9% were female. The prevalences of MDE, AD, and exposure to 3–5 categories of ACEs were 13.7, 10.0, and 12.5%, respectively. After adjusting for covariates (age, race, and current and childhood socioeconomic disadvantage), for those with both risk factors (female and 3–5 ACEs) the prevalence of MDE was 26.9%. This was 10.2% (95% CI: 1.8, 18.5%) higher than the expected prevalence based on the additive associations of the two risk factors. The adjusted prevalence of AD among females with 3–5 ACEs was 21.9%, which was 11.4% (95% CI: 4.0, 18.9%) higher than the expected prevalence. Conclusions For both MDE and AD, there was synergy between the two risk factors of exposure to ACEs and being female. Identification and treatment of MDE and AD may benefit from understanding the mechanisms involved in the synergistic interaction of gender with ACEs.

scholarly journals Rap in Music Therapy with Appalachian Youth with Adverse Childhood Experiences

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica S. Fletcher
Keyword(s):  
Music Therapy ◽  
Hip Hop ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Rap Music ◽  
The United States ◽  
Internal Conflict ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Music Therapist ◽  
Supervision Process ◽  
Adverse Childhood

Children and adolescents in Appalachia are often exposed to Adverse Childhood Experiences and may have higher levels of depression, anxiety, and aggression than youth in other areas of the United States. The unique challenges of working with youth in Appalachia and the unexpected prevalence of rap as a preferred genre are summarized in this article. Rap is a frequently requested genre with youth in Appalachian Ohio and the youth in the area frequently identify with common themes in rap such as social criticism, social empowerment, humanistic values, and negative behavior criticism. Despite success with these methods within music therapy sessions, this Caucasian music therapist has experienced internal conflict due to the potential for cultural appropriation by using rap music in music therapy with clients who are not indigenous to Hip Hop Kulture. Discussion of the implications of therapeutic application, this therapist’s self-reflections and supervision process, potential for appropriation, and personal outcomes are included.

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.  

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