Science, practice, and policy related to adverse childhood experiences: Framing the conversation.

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) detrimentally affect health outcomes in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Over the past 2 decades, the recognition of ACEs by scientists and professionals across disciplines, policymakers, and the public has evolved and expanded. Although the initial articulation of ACEs in Felitti et al.'s landmark study has formed the basis of subsequent investigations on the long-term impact of childhood adversities on health and health risk behaviors, a wider public health framework, inclusive of psychology and other social sciences, also shapes current conceptualizations, research, practice, and policies. This article provides an overview of the special issue Adverse Childhood Experiences: Translating Research to Action. Given the rapid expansion and widespread application of ACEs, this special issue was developed to articulate critical concepts, to demonstrate the significance and relevance of psychological research and practice, and to catalyze further efforts to develop effective programs and policies informed by science. The 15 articles included reflect the continuum of critical work being conducted in research, practice, intervention and prevention programs, and public policy and serve to synthesize the growing body of empirical evidence. The overarching themes that emerged are framed as 3 essential questions: (a) How broadly should ACEs be defined?, (b) How should ACEs be assessed?, and (c) How can ACEs science translate into high quality services? As illustrated in these articles, policy and practice applications deriving from psychology as a hub science can substantially benefit the health and mental health of children, adolescents, and adults.

Adverse childhood experiences, adult depression, and suicidal ideation in rural Uganda: A cross-sectional, population-based study

“…While it is vital that future policies and programs address high rates of ACEs in this region, many ACEs reflect larger structural and systematic barriers in Uganda, including poverty and economic insecurity. Thus, while targeting specific ACEs to prevent child and adult psychopathology [ 85 ], there remains a need to address depression, suicidal ideation, and other associated negative mental health outcomes. Due to the cross-sectional nature of this study, we were unable to determine causality between ACEs and poor mental health during adulthood.…”

Child Maltreatment and Long-Term Physical and Mental Health Outcomes: An Exploration of Biopsychosocial Determinants and Implications for Prevention

“…Increasingly, epidemiological and other studies include exposure to intimate partner violence as a fifth form [ 3 ]. Child maltreatment are forms of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), a broad term that also includes exposure to family mental health problems, incarceration, substance use, parental separation/divorce, as well as poverty, bullying, racial discrimination, and separation from immigrant parents [ 4 ]. Defining the nature of each form of child maltreatment is complex, but robust conceptual models have developed over time to establish growing consensus.…”

Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders in Special Education Schools from a Multi-Informant Perspective

“…First, previous studies included a small range of ACEs, assessing primarily maltreatment, although the original ACE framework is broader than maltreatment only. In addition, the concept of ACEs evolved over recent decades from the original ten ACEs measured by Felitti and colleagues [ 36 ] towards an extended range of experiences within and outside the family context [ 37 , 61 ]. ACEs from this ‘broadened framework’ were shown to have the same or similar outcomes as the 10 original ACEs [ 61 , 62 , 63 ].…”