Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Study
The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study is one of the largest investigations ever conducted to assess associations between childhood maltreatment and later-life health and well-being.
The ACE Study findings have confirmed the negative impact of ACEs, such as physical, emotional and sexual abuse and household dysfunction, on health behaviors and health outcomes in adulthood. Progress in preventing and recovering from the nation’s worst health and social problems is likely to benefit from understanding that many of these problems arise as a consequence of adverse childhood experiences.
Adverse Childhood Experiences included in the study are as follows:
Emotional Abuse
Physical Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Emotional Neglect
Physical Neglect
Violence in Household
Household Substance Abuse
Household Mental Illness
Parental Separation or Divorce
Incarcerated Household Member
As the number of stressors (ACEs) experienced during childhood increases, the risk for health problems later in life increases proportionally for the following health problems:
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
Learn more about ACE here.
Creating the Opportunity to Heal
Meet Michael. Michael grows up in an abusive household, overcome with intergenerational trauma. How would Michael’s life trajectory change if he had the opportunity to heal from his adverse childhood experiences at Children’s Crisis Treatment Center.