The Consequences of Childhood Trauma
Risk factors for disease, disability and early mortality are not randomly distributed. Research shows some of the worst health and social problems can arise as a consequence of adverse childhood experiences.
The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACE Study) is a research study of more than 17,000 middle class Americans, recruited between 1995 and 1997. They all received a standardized physical examination and provided detailed personal information about their childhood experience of abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction. The group was tracked for long-term health outcomes.
By taking a whole life perspective, the ACE study began to uncover how adverse childhood experiences are strongly related to an individual’s development and prevalence to risk factors for disease and health and social well-being.
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) report trauma to include very frightening or distressing situations or events which may result in psychological wound or injury with a difficulty in coping or functioning normally. Everyone’s reaction is different, many will recover but some do develop problems. These problems can emerge well after the event/s.
The APS include the following in their list of situations and events that can lead a person to experience psychological trauma: acts of violence such as an armed robbery, war or terrorism, interpersonal violence such as rape, child abuse, or suicide of a family member or friend, natural disasters such as bushfire, earthquake or floods, and involvement in a serious motor vehicle or workplace accident.
The ACE study developed a list of questions that can determine your ACE score.
The ACE Study uses the ACE Score, which is a total count of the number of adverse childhood experiences reported by respondents. The ACE Score is used to assess the amount of stress during childhood (to the age of 18years) and has demonstrated that as the number of ACE increase, the risk for the following health problems increases in a strong and graded trajectory:
- Alcoholism and alcohol abuse
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Depression
- Foetal 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
- Early initiation of smoking
- Early initiation of sexual activity
- Adolescent pregnancy
References:
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2014). Injury Prevention & Control: Division of Violence Prevention. Retrieved from www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/acestudy/index.html
The Australian Psychological Society Limited (2015). Understanding and managing psychological trauma. Retrieved from www.psychology.org.au/publications/tip_sheets/trauma/
Scroll down to complete the ACE Questionnaire
Byron Clinic and Trauma Resolution
The ACE Questionnaire
This example of the ACE questionnaire attributes one point for each category of exposure to child abuse and/or neglect. A 'yes' response is scored 1 and a 'no', 0. The higher the score the greater the exposure and the greater the risk of negative consequences.
If you find answering these questions distressing, or if you have experienced any form of trauma, and you want help, start by talking with a licensed health care provider at your local mental health clinic. You can also contact Lifeline for crisis support on 13 11 14 or SANE's Helpline for information on where to get help on 1800 187 263
This is an anonymous questionnaire, for your own personal knowledge, and none of the results are recorded or stored in any way.
While you were growing up, during your first 18 years of life:
The ACE Study Reveals
The ACE Study revealed five main discoveries:
- ACEs are common…nearly two-thirds (64%) of adults have at least one.
- They cause adult onset of chronic disease, such as cancer and heart disease, as well as mental illness, violence and being a victim of violence.
- ACEs don’t occur alone….if you have one, there’s an 87% chance that you have two or more.
- The more ACEs you have, the greater the risk for chronic disease, mental illness, violence and being a victim of violence. People have an ACE score of 0 to 10. Each type of trauma counts as one, no matter how many times it occurs. You can think of an ACE score as a cholesterol score for childhood trauma. For example, people with an ACE score of 4 are twice as likely to be smokers and seven times more likely to be alcoholic. Having an ACE score of 4 increases the risk of emphysema or chronic bronchitis by nearly 400 percent, and suicide by 1200 percent. People with high ACE scores are more likely to be violent, to have more marriages, more broken bones, more drug prescriptions, more depression, and more autoimmune diseases. People with an ACE score of 6 or higher are at risk of their lifespan being shortened by 20 years.
- ACEs are responsible for a big chunk of workplace absenteeism, and for costs in health care, emergency response, mental health and criminal justice. So, the fifth finding from the ACE Study is that childhood adversity contributes to most of our major chronic health, mental health, economic health and social health issues.
Reference:
ACES 101: ACEs FAQs www.acestoohigh.com/aces-101/
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Having “multiple sexual partners” should not be on that list. It is normal, and shames normal sexual behaviour.
I think what you’re talking, is the linking of one’s self worth to sex and the resulting hyper-sexuality.
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What is normal? The STDs? The random potential paternity? Normal where?
But there is a connection between sexual abuse and sexual behaviours. A doctor explained to me my personal sense of protection of my body had been violated and as a consequence my sense of self worth and self ownership. Something becomes disconnected psychologically and you have sex with people you don’t even like.
I think I was just longing to be loved.
Pretty sure most reading this article would know they are talking about hypersexuality, not about sleeping around just for fun. This whole article is about how trauma leads to illnesses (both physically and mentally), so it’s not shaming normal sexual behaviour at all.
I got a 10 too. I have almost died several times once self induced. I have had multiple abusive partners physical and mental. I’m not an addict but understand addiction. I have no trust and keep those I love close. I’m almost 50 and I still have constant memories of my shit childhood. Dave we are still Alive and there’s always hope. We are survivors ❤️
Maybe 50,000 years ago when we lived in caves. Civilisation introduced the norms we’re scoring today
Got and ACE score of 10. Not sure what to do with it.
Dave you’re a warrior if you are still alive. Mine was 4.
I did, too. I am trying to find what to do with that. I have a therapist but I want to see what the long-term effects are on an adult who scored 10.
I’ve always scored a 10, and to be honest if there was 10 more questions asking.
1. Have you ever witnessed a severely violent act ?
2. Before your 18th birthday did a friend die?
3. Before your 18th birthday did a family member die?
4. Before your 18th birthday did a partner you loved die?
5. Etc.
I would have scored 20/20…
I’ve been doing some life reflecting on my behaviours and why I am the way I am lately, I would love to know what it would look like for most adult people because when I look in the mirror I’m perfectly aware of what life is like for people who score 20 of 20 or in the case 10 of 10.
You’re a warrior. I’m 27 and got a score of 6.
Me too. Frankly, I think we can beat the statistics. Self awareness, using self healing tools, therapy, etc. I was freaked out too and then I found a scale about resilience. And that’s where we can thrive. I highly recommend the book “Childhood Disrupted”. I stopped drinking alcohol, have done many years of therapy, reading books and found a fantastic partner that understands me. Keep on keeping on Dave! We can survive AND thrive!
The question that asks if your mother or stepmother were abused should be changed to a parent in general. In my case my father was the one in that situation. It should also be changed to not be gender specific as gender should not be considered as a factor for this question.
I scored 11. Surprised I am still here.