In this research paper, the authors were looking into the association between adverse
childhood experiences (ACEs), and the health outcomes in adults from the age of 18-59 Years.
Research for this was done in Macheng city in China in May 2014. Data was collected via a
survey that asked first people about demographics and if they were only child. Whether or not
the participant had suffered from any ACEs was assessed using the Adverse Childhood
Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ), this questionnaire was developed by the
World Health Organization. The survey also took Alcohol drinking behavior, smoking behavior,
BMI, and the presence or absence of chronic diseases. The Center for Epidemiological Studies
Depression Scale was used to identify populations at risk of depression and PTSD.
The research found that childhood abuse and violence were greatly more prevalent in
men when compared to women. The ACE scores for participants that currently have chronic
diseases, depression, PTSD, and are drinkers and smokers, was significantly higher than those
that were healthy. This simply means that participants with higher ACE scores had a much
higher risk of having health-risk related behaviors. Those who experienced domestic violence
during childhood were more likely to become a drinker. Those who experienced physical
neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse were more likely to become a smoker. Chronic
diseases were significantly associated with childhood emotional abuse, getting bullied, and
family drug abuse. PTSD and depression were significantly associated with sexual abuse,
domestic violence, community violence, and physical and emotional abuse during childhood.
The study demonstrates that there is a correlation between long-term health outcomes and
exposure to ACEs. It also demonstrated how the different ACE types may affect people
differently. Men and lower-class participants had a higher chance of experiencing ACEs
compared to women and higher-class participants. The more a participant experienced violent
ACEs, the more likely that participant was to have depression and PTSD in adulthood.
This research supports common perceptions on the relation between adverse childhood
experiences and adulthood health-risk behaviors. It would seem easy to assume that people are
more likely to have more health-risk behaviors like smoking or drinking if they have
experienced traumatic events in their childhood. It also makes sense that people who have
experienced trauma in their childhood are more likely to have depression or PTSD in their
adulthood.
I chose the subject of Criminology,
Below is all the requested information about the research I found.
Title:
Associations between adverse childhood
experiences and health outcomes in adults
aged 18–59 years
Received: December 19, 2016
Published: February 7, 2019
Found at: http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=d33aa4b0-7f93-4384b342-a2ccfd819439%40sdc-vsessmgr05&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=134568458
Authors:
Xuening Chang,
Xueyan Jiang,
Tamara Mkandarwire,
Min Shen,
Abstract: (This is a direct Copy)
Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with poor
health status later in life. The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship
between ACEs and health-related behaviors, chronic diseases, and mental health in adults.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with 1501 residents of Macheng, China. The
ACE International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) was used to assess ACEs, including psychological,
physical, and sexual forms of abuse, as well as household dysfunction. The main outcome
variables were lifetime drinking status, lifetime smoking status, chronic diseases, depression,
and posttraumatic stress disorder. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine
the associations between overall ACE score and individual ACE component scores and risk
behaviors/comorbidities in adulthood after controlling for potential confounders. Results: A
total of 66.2% of participants reported at least one ACE, and 5.93% reported four or more ACEs.
Increased ACE scores were associated with increased risks of drinking (adjusted odds ratio
[AOR] = 1.09, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.00–1.09), chronic disease (AOR = 1.17, 95% CI:
1.06–1.28), depression (AOR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.27–1.48), and posttraumatic stress disorder (AOR
= 1.32, 95% CI: 1.23–1.42) in adulthood. After adjusting for confounding factors, the individual
ACE components had different impacts on risk behavior and health, particularly on poor mental
health outcomes in adulthood. Conclusions: ACEs during childhood were significantly associated
with risk behaviors and poor health outcomes in adulthood, and different ACE components had
different long-term effects on health outcomes in adulthood.
Resources:
Chang X, Jiang X, Mkandarwire T, Shen
M (2019) Associations between adverse childhood
experiences and health outcomes in adults aged
18–59 years. PLoS ONE 14(2): e0211850. https://
doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211850