 |
|
|
|
|
Major Findings
Childhood abuse, neglect, and exposure to other traumatic stressors which
we term adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are common. Almost two-thirds
of our study participants reported at least one ACE, and more than one in
five reported three or more ACE. The short- and long-term outcomes of these
childhood exposures include a multitude of health and social problems. The
ACE Study uses the ACE Score, which is a count of the total number of ACE
respondents reported. The ACE Score is used to assess the total amount of
stress during childhood and has demonstrated that as the number of ACE
increase, the risk for the following health problems increases in a strong
and graded fashion:
- alcoholism and alcohol abuse
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- depression
- fetal 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
|
In addition, the ACE Study has also demonstrated that the ACE Score has a
strong and graded relationship to health-related behaviors and outcomes
during childhood and adolescence including early initiation of smoking,
sexual activity, and illicit drug use, adolescent pregnancies, and suicide
attempts. Finally, as the number of ACE increases the number of
co-occurring or “co-morbid” conditions increases.
Page last reviewed: January 10, 2008
Page last modified: December 12, 2005
Content source: Division of Adult
and Community Health, National
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion |
|
|
