Studying Adverse Childhood Experiences

- Researchers at Kaiser Permanente's Health Appraisal Clinic in San Diego collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on a study exploring adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs. The first phase of the study was conducted between 1995 and 1997 when they asked more than 17,000 patients, both male and female, to answer "Yes" if any of the following occurred before they turned 18:

* Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often... swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you? Or act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt?

* Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often... push, grab, slap, or throw something at you? Or ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?

* Did an adult or person at person at least five years older than you ever... touch or fondle you in a sexual way? Or attempt to actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you?

* Did you often or very often feel that... no one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special? Or your family didn't look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other?

* Did you often or very often feel that... you didn't have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, and had no one to protect you? Or your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you or take you to the doctor if you needed it?

* Was a biological parent ever lost to you through divorce, abandonment, or other reason?

* Was your mother or stepmother: Often or very often pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her? Or sometimes, often, or very often kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard? Or ever repeatedly hit over at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife?

* Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic, or who used street drugs?

* Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide?

* Did a household member ever go to prison?

Of the patients surveyed, more than 60 percent answered "yes" to at least one of the questions, with 36 percent answering "yes" to more than one. The majority of participants in the study were white, older than 40, and had at least some education beyond high school.

According to the CDC, the results of the study suggest that certain childhood experiences create a greater risk for chronic and mental illnesses, as well as a larger likelihood for socio-economic hardship.

"It is critical to understand how some of the worst health and social problems in our nation can arise as a consequence of adverse childhood experiences," the CDC report states. "Realizing these connections is likely to improve efforts toward prevention and recovery."