Basic Overview of ACES

Basic Overview of ACES Study

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) include stressful or traumatizing events. These may include witnessing or directly experiencing violence, experiencing racism, war, car accident and so many more events that may cause undue stress. In 1990, Kaiser and the Center for Disease Control conducted a study. The study included 10 questions that focused on abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. The study included primarily college-educated, middle-class, White Americans. The study included a 10 question survey that included questions focused on individuals experiences of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction before the age of 18. 

In 2013, another study was conducted, the Philadelphia Urban ACEs Survey, that included a more diverse sampling of individual's experiences with adversity. The survey was provided to individuals who were from a more diverse background including race, socioeconomic background, educational level, and gender. The survey expanded to 22 questions. In addition to questions that assessed participants' experiences with abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction it also offered questions to assess individuals' experiences with racism, bullying, foster care, and indirect experiences of violence before the age of 18 years.  

Review the following for slides. The slides provide an overview of the two studies discussed above and include examples of types of adversity one may experience.

The initial study found that individuals who answered in the affirmative to having experienced at least four adversities before the age of 18 were at a higher risk of several complications as adults. Review the slide provided above to understand the types of adult risk factors.

What questions do you still have about the basics of ACES?