A new study reveals that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are shockingly common among U.S. high school students, with over 76% reporting at least one ACE and nearly 19% experiencing four or more. This alarming trend underscores the need for increased childhood trauma prevention and support services to address the far-reaching consequences of ACEs on adolescent health and wellbeing.
High Rate of Adverse Childhood Experience
Based on a study in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, ACEs most often experienced by U.S. high school students are emotional abuse (61.5%), physical abuse (31.8%) and living in a household with poor mental health (28.4%). Female, American Indian/Alaska Native, multiracial and LGBTQ+ students however were more likely to have ACE scores >=4.
These results reflect an overwhelming urgency to combat the wide-reaching effects of childhood adversity on adolescent health. Loading ACEs are associated with many negative outcomes, including higher likelihood for substance use disorders, mental health problems and suicidality. Aceblems contributed to more than 85% of suicide attempts and seriously considered suicide attempts, as well as 84% prescription opioid misuse, the researchers found.
A Typology of Adverse Childhood Experiences in a Sample of Youth Involved With the Child Welfare System: Relevance to Chronic Illness and Health Behaviors by Tammy Ta, PhDPsychosocial Stress Hormone Test Profiles According to Delivery Mode Available online 30 October 2018 Rina D. EidenCorresponding AuthorE-mail address: eiden@buffalo.eduDepartment of Psychology, State University of New York at BuffaloThis previous version: November 9AcceptedCompatible First-Gepublished on Dec. 19-Volume 133Issue-paper No.-10-t-auorTitle OutlinesKevin WorrallAdolescent healthcare behaviors and health results primarily based on key metrics.
The authors of the study stress that, public health-wise, ACEs have a huge impact as more than 50 percent of most health diseases and risk behaviors (from violence to substance use and from sexual activity to mental health problems) lie behind these early childhood experiences.
The association between ACEs and so many adverse health outcomes illustrates the essential role of preventing childhood trauma. Interventions that target trauma-informed care and resiliency among youth may be successful at ameliorating the long-term effects of ACEs.
By focusing resources on strategies to pre-empt and address it early, policymakers can help ensure no child is left behind due to his or her childhood experiences.
How to Heal the Lifelong Scars of Adverse Childhood Experiences
The findings from this study are a wake-up call for us to improve our support systems and resources in place locally for youths with ACEs. This requires coordination between school-based programs, community-based organizations, and healthcare providers to identify and help students who have experienced trauma as well as helping ensure they have the resources needed to develop resilience in order to cope with challenges.
In many cases, public health programs dealing with large social issues like poverty have the greatest potential for turning around entire communities by breaking the cycle of trauma. If we tackle the root causes of ACEs (poverty, violence, lack of access to mental health services), we will be able to promote a more just and supportive environment for all children and adolescents.
As we struggle to grapple with the lasting effects of ACEs, we must place the well-being of our young people first by shifting towards solution-driven prevention and response strategies that can support every child’s physical, mental, and emotional health.
