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UNDERSTANDNG THE NEUROSCIENCE
Adverse Childhood Experiences
The term “ACEs” is an acronym for Adverse Childhood Experiences. It originated from a groundbreaking study conducted in the late 1990s that investigated the long-term effects of childhood trauma on health and well-being. The study was conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente. In the study, “ACE” referred to three specific kinds of adversity children faced in the home environment—various forms of physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction.
The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study involved over 17,000 adult participants who were asked about their exposure to 10 categories of adverse experiences during childhood, including abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction.
The findings of the ACE Study revealed a strong correlation between the number of adverse experiences a person had during childhood and a wide range of negative outcomes in adulthood, such as chronic health conditions, mental illness, substance abuse, and even premature death. The study demonstrated that as the number of ACEs increases, so does the risk for these negative outcomes. The ACE Study has had a profound impact on public health, education, and social services, highlighting the importance of addressing and mitigating the effects of childhood trauma to improve long-term health and societal outcomes.
The 10 categories of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) identified in the original ACE Study are grouped into three main types: abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. Here are the specific categories:
Abuse:
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Physical Abuse: Being physically harmed or threatened with harm.
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Emotional Abuse: Being verbally abused, insulted, or humiliated.
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Sexual Abuse: Any form of sexual contact or exploitation by an adult or older person.
Neglect:
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Physical Neglect: Basic physical needs, such as food, shelter, and medical care, are not met.
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Emotional Neglect: Emotional needs are not met, such as feeling unloved, unsupported, or unimportant.
Household Dysfunction:
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Domestic Violence: Witnessing violence or physical abuse directed at one's mother or stepmother.
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Substance Abuse: Living with someone who abuses alcohol or drugs.
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Mental Illness: Living with someone who has a mental illness, such as depression or bipolar disorder.
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Parental Separation or Divorce: Experiencing the separation or divorce of parents.
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Incarceration of a Household Member: Having a household member who is incarcerated.
These categories help to identify and quantify the level of trauma that a person may have experienced during childhood, which can have significant implications for their health and well-being later in life.
What are Aces?
A short 2 ½ minute YouTube Clip: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) affect all of us and they can lead to a prolonged activation of our stress response called toxic stress – ultimately affecting health across a lifetime. This animated “explainer” video from the Office of the California Surgeon General illustrates how.
Seminal article from Felitti et al (1998).
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is a term coined by researchers Vincent Felitti, Robert Anda and their colleagues in their seminal study conducted from 1995 to 1997 - are a subset of childhood adversities. This study is one of the largest investigations of childhood abuse and neglect and household challenges and later-life health and wellbeing.
Brainwave Trust - full article
Brainwave Trust - short version
From the Brainwave Trust (NZ) an article (and a short version) which explores some of the key findings from the seminal Adverse Childhood Experiences studies (ACEs), in conjunction with other research into the potential effects of adversity on tamariki and rangatahi. It is intended for those working with tamariki and rangatahi, or their whānau, to aid understanding about the possible impacts of adversity on those they support.
