Adverse Childhood Experiences
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is the term used to describe all types of abuse, neglect, and other potentially traumatic experiences that occur to people under the age of 18.
Types of ACEs Include:
- Emotional Abuse
- Physical Abuse
- Sexual Abuse
- Emotional Neglect
- Physical Neglect
- Parental Separation or Divorce
- Mother was treated violently
- Household Substance Abuse
- Household Mental Illness
- Incarcerated Household Member
The original Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study was conducted at Kaiser Permanente from 1995 to 1997 with two waves of data collection from over 17,000 participants surveyed. This study is one of the largest investigations of childhood abuse & neglect and household challenges and later-life health & well-being. The study found that as the number of ACEs increases, so does the risk for these outcomes:
- Cognitive Developmental Issues
- Adult Criminality
- Lower Education Attainment
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Physical Health Issues
- Mental Health Issues
- Risky Behaviors
- Chronic Illness
Did you know? Child maltreatment is costly. In the United States, the total lifetime economic burden associated with child abuse and neglect was approximately $592 billion in 2018. This economic burden rivals the cost of other high profile public health problems, such as stroke and type 2 diabetes.
Resource: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/acestudy/about.html
Children’s Trust of South Carolina