THE PROBLEM
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Ace’s or Adverse Childhood Experiences are traumatic events, known as stressors, that occur between the ages of 0 to 17 years old. They can include the following:
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Physical and Emotional Abuse
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Physical and Emotional Neglect
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Household member who suffered from mental health issues.
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Household member addicted to illegal drugs and/or alcohol.
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Sexual Abuse
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Household member who was incarcerated.
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Loss of parent due to death, divorce, or abandonment.
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Witnessing domestic violence against mother.
The original study of ACEs was a landmark study completed in the mid-1990s. It examined the relationship between childhood traumas and health outcomes in later life. This study found that Adverse Childhood Experiences have been linked to Risky Health Behaviors, Chronic Health Conditions, Low Life Potential, and Early Death.
Risk Factors Associated with ACEs
Individual Factors
Early dating or early sexual activity
Children with few to no friends
Children with friends who engage in bad behavior
Family Factors
Families with low income
Families with poor communication skills
Families with young caregivers or single parents
Families experiencing caregiving challenges related to children with special needs.
Community Factors
High crime rates
High unemployment rates
Easy access to drugs and alcohol
Limited access to community activities
As the number of ACEs increase, the risk for negative outcomes also increases.
The ACE Pyramid
The ACE Pyramid (from the CDC) shows the conceptual framework of the ACE study. The arrow to the right of the pyramid depicts the “whole life perspective” that the study attempts to address. By using this model, the ACE study has discovered how ACEs are strongly related to development and prevalence of risk factors for disease and well-being throughout the lifespan.
