Adverse Childhood Experiences were originally identified by researchers trying to understand the impact of early trauma on later life. They found 10 experiences that impact later life and divided them into 3 categories.
- Abuse: (DEFINE)
- Neglect: (DEFINE)
- Household Dysfunction: (DEFINE)
To find out your ACE score, visit this website.
Definition of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Credit: Robert Wood Johnson
The Impact of ACEs
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Credit: Robert Wood Johnson
Their results shocked the healthcare field. They found that the number of these 10 early experiences an individual experienced before age 18 years of age, the higher the risk for negative health outcomes. The impact was so strong, that those that experienced 4 or more of the 10 experiences, lost about 20 years of life.
The negative health outcomes included increased poor health behaviors and physical and mental health conditions.
The key health conditions they affected are common and cause significant, widespread disability and early death.
The Impact of ACEs
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Credit: Robert Wood Johnson
ACEs Are Common
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Credit: Robert Wood Johnson
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Credit: Robert Wood Johnson
“ACEs are common. About 61% of adults surveyed across 25 states reported that they had experienced at least one type of ACE, and nearly 1 in 6 reported they had experienced four or more types of ACEs.
Preventing ACEs could potentially reduce a large number of health conditions. For example, up to 1.9 million cases of heart disease and 21 million cases of depression could have been potentially avoided by preventing ACEs.
Some children are at greater risk than others. Women and several racial/ethnic minority groups were at greater risk for having experienced 4 or more types of ACEs.
ACEs are costly. The economic and social costs to families, communities, and society totals hundreds of billions of dollars each year.”