The impact of traumatic experiences that occur in childhood may sometimes last a lifetime. Researchers have found that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) make it more likely that you will have physical health problems, mental illness, abuse drugs, or behave violently as an adult.
What are ACEs – Adverse Childhood Experiences?
The term “adverse childhood experiences” refers to traumatic events that happened to a person when they were young, ages 0-17, that had a big effect on their physical and mental health.
While there are many studies on ACEs, the majority of them focus on only three potential causes:
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- abuse
- neglect
- dysfunction in the home
Between 1995 and 1997, more than 17,000 people participated in the CDC-Kaiser Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. Their results were among the first to show how serious the problem of developmental trauma was. After describing their childhoods, the participants went through a series of health screenings to find out how healthy they are now. Researchers used this information to list adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and figure out how these events affect health later in life.
The study adopted a scoring system when evaluating the ten most common forms of ACEs:
- verbal abuse
- physical abuse
- sexual assault
- emotional abuse
- physical neglect
- emotional neglect
- imprisonment of a family member
- a mother who has experienced domestic abuse
- experiencing the divorce of parental figures
- a loved one who has been given a mental diagnosis
The ACE score only takes trauma of any type into account once. For example, an ACE score of 3 can mean you may have been sexually abused, have a parent who is an alcoholic, and have gone experienced a parental divorce.
Importantly, keep in mind that the ACE score is not a perfect measure. Other types of toxic stress that last longer, like months or years, would also increase the chance of health problems. One’s actions as an adult will be very different depending on how many ACEs one has, the age when the ACE(s) occurred, the frequency of the ACE(s), and the presence of positive childhood experiences (PCEs).
As we know, many other types of traumatic events can happen in childhood and cause problems in adulthood.
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- Bullying
- Racism
- Seeing a sibling being mistreated
- Homelessness
- Mistreating a caregiver (grandmother, grandfather, etc.)
- Surviving a serious accident
- Seeing a mother mistreating a father
- Involvement in the JJS (juvenile justice system).
- Adoption and foster care involvement
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can hurt many parts of a person’s life, including how well they do in school.
ACEs and School Performance
There is a link between ACEs and poor school performance, special education referrals, suspensions, or expulsions. In addition, the Health & Medicine Policy Research Group reports that children who had experienced three or more adverse childhood experiences were nearly 2.5 times more likely to fail a grade.
Many times, ACEs can also contribute to behavioral issues in the classroom. One study from 2014 found shocking facts about children with an ACE score of 3 or more. 44% said they had trouble staying calm and controlled in class, and 48% had low engagement in school. In addition, 49% of the students had trouble completing assignments, 23% showed signs of a learning disability, and 21% repeated a grade.
Unfortunately, ACEs and trauma in children are often misunderstood so their needs go misdiagnosed and unmet. Oftentimes, children who experience trauma do so at the hands of people whom they believe should be there to protect them. Thus, it may be very difficult for them to build secure attachments with teachers or other caregivers who express genuine concern for them. Instead of welcoming the concerned adults, the child may push them away which may result in further isolation. It is critical for safe adults to be a constant presence in their lives to recondition them so that they are able to trust.
Are having Aces Common?
Sadly, ACEs are not uncommon. At first glance:
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- One in six people has four or more ACEs.
- For people with an ACE score of 4 or higher, the risk of depression is three times higher.
- ACEs are linked to 5 of the top 10 killer diseases.
- Adult depression rates could drop by up to 44% if society prevented ACEs.
According to the CDC, around 61 percent of people have had at least one ACE, and approximately 16 percent of adults have had four or more separate ACEs. Furthermore, it’s significant to recognize that ACEs are affected differently depending on race. Children of color suffer from ACEs at a higher rate than white children do.
The National Conference of State Legislatures notes that 61% of children of African descent and about 51% of children of Hispanic descent had had at least one traumatic experience when they were young. On the contrary, 23% of Asian and 40% of white kids have experienced an ACE.
How ACEs Show Up in Behavior, Physical, and Mental Health
Childhood trauma may have several ramifications that could have a lasting impact. Children who endure ACEs and toxic stress may:
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- Experience depression
- Have difficulties keeping a job
- Have difficulties with finances
- Be more prone to be involved in domestic violence
- Have an increased likelihood of attempting suicide
- Conceive children too soon, often without wanting to
- Experience increased rates of unemployment
- Have a greater chance of spending time in jail or prison
- Have difficulties building intimate ties with others
- Possess a higher propensity to subject their children to traumatic experiences
- Have an increased risk of alcohol or substance abuse
- Have an increased chance of health conditions such as heart disease, substance use disorders, cancer, and lung disease
Unfortunately, ACEs have a dose-response relationship. It means that the more ACEs a person has had, the more likely their health conditions will worsen.
Some adults who have experienced ACEs haven’t learned healthy methods to deal with stress, and others haven’t acquired any healthy coping mechanisms. Sadly, these people are significantly more likely to choose behaviors or create settings that also put their kids at risk of developing ACEs. It is one way in which trauma is passed from generation to generation (intergenerational trauma), which I speak about in my book, Perseverance Through Severe Dysfunction.
According to many studies, a person who experienced traumatic events as a child is much more likely to participate in risky and life-threatening behaviors like smoking and abusing substances. Their probability of having long-term illnesses like cancer and diabetes and dying younger are higher. Research also found that ACE victims were more likely to have “poor life potential,” which includes the following:
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- Reduced rates of graduating from high school
- Lower academic performance
- When a victim becomes an adult, they miss more time at work.
The scientific explanation for why people with ACEs are more likely to develop mental and physical illnesses relates to how childhood trauma affects the body and brain growth. Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk illustrates this brilliantly in his book, The Body Keeps the Score.
One place where ACEs have an effect is on the nucleus accumbens, which is a part of the brain linked to pleasure, reward, and addiction. An ACE blocks the prefrontal cortex, a key part of the brain for learning and is needed for executive function and impulse control.
These alterations in brain chemistry might increase a person’s propensity for high-risk behaviors like alcohol and cigarette use, which are linked to physical health hazards, including cancer and cardiovascular disease.
I hear all the time from people who can’t make sense of why a person who has experienced trauma behaves the way that they do despite “knowing better.” Unfortunately, it’s just not that simple.
Recovering from ACEs and childhood trauma
Even though ACEs have been linked to poor health and behavior later in life, there is room for hope. Having a strong support network and the resilience to deal with life’s challenges can lessen the negative health effects of ACEs.
Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs)
PCEs are childhood encounters that strengthen a child’s positive feelings and sense of connection and belonging.
Some of the negative impacts that ACEs cause may be lessened by the positive benefits of PCEs. Recent studies show that PCEs can predict things like a child’s level of happiness (both now and as an adult) and good academic performance.
There are many ways to build and strengthen a child’s resilience, which can help lessen the negative effects of adversity in childhood:
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- Knowing and using positive parenting techniques by caregivers
- Promoting positive psychological and social development in children
- Maintaining close ties to capable caretakers or other responsible adults
- Neighborhoods that promote growth and wellness
- Concrete help for families and parents
- Inculcating the feeling of purpose in life
- Personal problem-solving and self-control capacities
- Promoting the resilience of parents
- Promoting interpersonal relations
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When a child experiences ACEs, these support strategies help them feel secure sooner and lessen the impact of the negative experiences.
Writing
Researchers discovered that writing about painful memories and intense feelings might boost immunity, attention, and cognitive function. A more recent study came to the same conclusion: writing can help people who have been through trauma heal.
Therapy or counseling
Trauma therapy may help you deal with the things that happened in your past, prevent unhealthy responses to stress, and find better ways to deal with triggers as they arise. There are so many forms of therapy: EMDR, psychodrama, internal family systems (IFS), art therapy, sound therapy, and somatic release therapy just to name a few that have been beneficial in my personal journey.
Mindfulness meditation
According to studies done in 2011 and 2020, people who practice mindfulness meditation have more gray matter in the sections of their brains that are in charge of processing memory, learning, regulating emotions, and self-awareness.
Regular exercise
Regular exercise may help decrease stress hormones, reduce inflammation, and promote neuroplasticity, which is your brain’s ability to adapt and change as you go through life.
Nurturing your relationships
Developing positive relationships with the right people can speed up your road to recovery. Asking for help, making friends you can count on, and maintaining strong social ties can give you companionship and support. It can also make your body make more of the feel-good hormone oxytocin.
Conclusion
As someone who has personally experienced adverse childhood experiences, I can attest to the lasting impact they can have on one’s health and well-being. The trauma and stress from these experiences can manifest in physical and mental health issues that can persist well into adulthood.
It’s important for individuals who have experienced ACEs to recognize the ways in which these experiences may be impacting their health and seek support to address any resulting issues. This can include therapy, self-care practices, and connecting with support groups.
It’s also important for society as a whole to recognize the prevalence of ACEs and work towards prevention through education, community support, and policy changes. By acknowledging the impact of childhood trauma on long-term health outcomes, we can work towards creating a more compassionate and supportive environment for all individuals, especially those who have experienced adversity in their childhood.
