Adverse Childhood Trauma (or ACE’s) can contribute to chronic health conditions and negative coping mechanisms in adults.
According to the CDC, “The CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study is one of the largest investigations of childhood abuse and neglect and household challenges and later-life health and well-being.”
The ACE Score is used to assess the total amount of
stress during childhood and has demonstrated that as the number of ACEs increase, the risk for the following health problems increases in a strong and graded fashion:
Alcoholism and alcohol abuse
Chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD)
Depression
Fetal death
Health-related quality of life
Illicit drug use
Ischemic heart disease (IHD)
Liver disease
Risk for intimate partner violence
Multiple sexual partners
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Smoking
Suicide attempts
Unintended pregnancies
Early initiation of smoking
Early initiation of sexual activity
Adolescent pregnancy
So what are ACE’s, anyway? These instances in the household can negatively affect a child as he/she grows:
- Abuse (emotional, physical, sexual)
- Mother treated violently
- Substance abuse in the household
- Mental illness in the household
- Parental separation or divorce
- Incarcerated household member
- Neglect (emotional or physical)
Do you want to take the ACE test?
Free resources for adults dealing with childhood trauma:
- Acestoohigh.com, “8 Ways People Recover from Post-Childhood Adversity Syndrome”
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Free Webinars
- Child Mind Institute, Free Trauma Guides
COMING UP TOMORROW: Prevent Childhood Trauma with Parenting Resources
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