Adverse childhood experiences known as the ACE Study, was developed to determine whether childhood events had long-term health consequences, which has important implications for Healthy People 2020 Policy planning, as well as for key social work roles in disease prevention. (Larkin, Felitti, Anda, 2014). Based on the Michael’s case he has experienced six ACEs, child abuse that was both emotional and physical, alcohol abuse, single parent home, working class, and lack of support/closeness with family. Some studies suggest that the experience of four or more ACEs is a threshold above which there is a particular higher risk of negative physical and mental health outcomes. (Sacks, Murphey, Moore, 2014) Early life stress, including neglect and abuse, …show more content…
can impact development and combines with genetic predisposition and other experiences, thereby contributing to unique personal variations in coping. (Larkin et al., 2014) Larkin, Felitti, Anda (2014) state child abuse is associated with youth runaway behavior, which is in turn correlated with later victimization as well as delinquency (Kim Jung et al., 2009). These studies show how the ACEs Michael experienced have shaped his life as an adult and the potential health risk factors he will be exposed to.
The correlation of child abuse and youth runaway are good examples of how the excessive drinking of Michael’s mother and her verbal/physical abuse led him to a pattern of running away from home since. This behavior not only led to him becoming homeless, but it also played a role in Michael feeling victimized by the police due to his economic status. It is safe to assume Michael’s behavior of running away and dropping out of high school is a positive correlation of the consequences and disadvantages of having four or more ACEs. These behavioral patterns Michael way of dealing with toxic stress at home and coping with the lack of support and closeness he was missing from his …show more content…
mother. Systems Theory Systems theory also known as dynamic theory is a correlation of holonic, organization and clear boundaries that define the flow and energy of the system. The system can either by disorganized or functional and subject to adaptation. There is constant change and change in any form can affect the flow of the system. Within this system there are three concepts that are identified, (1) focal system (micro level), (2) subsystem (mezzo level) and (3) suprasystem (macro level). An onlooker, individual or a family can be defined as the focal system. The subsystem, which are internal, and suprasystem, which are external, are both interrelated and interdependent and help support focal system. Papero states (as cited in Bowen 1978) described the family system as follows: The relationships between family members constitute a system in the sense that a reaction in one family member is followed by a predictable reaction in another, and that reaction is followed by a predictable reaction in another and then another in a chain-reaction pattern. (pp. 206–207). Behavior provide the energy or force that drives the system and relationship interaction expresses that motivation behaviorally (p. 158). In Michael’s case one could use his family, as family system theory. Michael’s family is the focal system and Michael and his mother are the subsystem. Factors of the subsystem consists of Michael the individual is a 20 year old African-American male, an only child, homeless, and a high school dropout. He has a low paying job, he’s emotional, angry, scared, and has low self-esteem. Michael’s mother who is also the individual is a single parent, she’s from working class background, an alcoholic, depressed, angry and has no interpersonal skills. The third factor in the system is the suprasystem, which are made up of workplace, the police, the social worker, classism, the Hollywood homeless shelter and My Friend’s House. The reaction of Michael mother being abusive toward him started a chain reaction in his behavior. Strengths and Weaknesses Strength for ACE’s is early detection on any ACE’s is the survey.
ACEs is a great blueprint for preventing health risk behaviors and non-infectious diseases in adults. This type of prevention teaches individuals how mind-body practices can help families cope with toxic stressors and adversity. This can also contribute to stopping intergenerational cycles of abuse, neglect and household dysfunctions. (Finkelhor, Shattuck, Turner, & Hamby, 2012) argue that research using the ACE Study model has some important limitations, in part because of the retrospective way in which data on childhood adversities have been gathered. The average age of respondents when they supplied information about their childhood experiences was 55 to 57 years. As a result, it is hard to be certain, particularly from such a remote vantage, whether it is these particular childhood experiences or unmeasured covariates that are the most important predictors. This can be a major limitation in determining whether or not adverse childhood experiences played a factor in older adults age or if other variables play a factor in health risk behaviors and non-infectious
diseases. A strengthen for systems theory is being able to determine the environmental boundaries. These boundaries illustrate what is and what is not part of the system. For example, one of the boundaries Michael faces is classism on a daily basis. Because of his current living and financial situation, the police due to trespassing may treat him differently based on the notion he is uneducated, unskilled, and possibly a threat. These characteristics define what system Michael is and is not apart of. R.E. Anderson and Carter (1990, p. 4) (as cited in Robbins, Chaatterjee, Canda 2011) stated a social system is a special order of systems…composed of persons or groups of persons who interact and mutually influence each other’s behavior. Within this order can be included persons, families, organizations, communities, societies, and cultures. A limitation within systems theory is that the system is not individualistic enough. Meaning it is not categorized by race. Race does not play a factor in the overall system of holonic, organization or boundaries.
A child experience early trauma that can develop unhealthy mind and body toward adulthood. To illustrate, ACE study shows people with high ACE score are likely to have physical damage to their body growing up (11). Another supported, scientist using ACE study data to conclude that “adversity” from stress starting at an early age causes damage to growth in a child body and mind (12). Childhood studies can explain the behavior effect on child growing up to adulthood because stress related can be the cause to unhealthy mind and unhealthy body. To sum up, Growing up in unhealthy environment that causes trauma to a child, will bring in mental and physical problems as they get
Nadine Burke Harris is a former pediatrician who became the founder and CEO of The Youth of Wellness. She is also a Dr. at one of the best private hospitals in northern California, California Pacific Medical Center. Her goal is “to change the standard practice across demographics” (Burke Harris). When it comes to children it is important that we address the issue regardless. In Dr. Burkes’ TED talk she tells us that in the mid 90’s an exposure had been discovered by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente. This exposure in high doses, “it affects brain development, hormonal system, the immune system and even the way that our DNA is read and transcribed. The exposure has been discovered to be a dramatic increase in the risk for seven out of ten leading causes of death in the United States”(Burke Harris). Alternatively, when Dr. Harris opened a clinic in Bayview Hunters-Point; it is to be known as the poorest underserved neighborhoods in San Francisco. Before she opened
Lanius, Ruth A., et al. The Impact of Early Life Trauma on Health and Disease: the Hidden Epidemic. Cambridge University Press, 2011.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are the extremely traumatic events that take place in an individual’s childhood that negatively affect their future attempts to succeed in life. ACEs include enduring physical and verbal abuse, living in dysfunction and over exposure to violent and criminal behavior. It was determined that children who are in the child welfare system are more likely to suffer ACEs and develop physical and mental health issues as well as engage in risky behavior (Brown & Shillington, 2017); children who suffer ACEs also have lower self-efficacy than other children. In all of the research prior to this study, much of the focus was on the psychological and behavioral outcomes of ACEs and what children were more susceptible to them. The problem that the researchers in this study have identified is that in no prior research has anyone
The Adverse Childhood Experiences study (ACE) conducted by Felitti et al. (1998) proposed that children who experienced maltreatment and neglect along with dysfunctional family systems were at higher risk for developing physiological and psychological problems later in life. The ACE studies demonstrated the collective effects of negative childhood experiences on physical and mental health issues. These disorders include; substance abuse, suicidal ideality, and depression, as well as a host of medical problems (Putnam, Harris & Putnam, 2013). In addition, the study indicated that exposure to two or more adverse childhood experiences is linked to higher rates of smoking, promiscuity, substance abuse, and eating disorders (Anda et al., 2006).
It’s interesting to see, or to ask “Who becomes an addict?” For instance, people can have sex without being addicted to it, they can go shopping, but for some people they become severely addicted to either pursuit. A pack of cards can or can’t be addictive, it is depending on the individual. So, it’s the same process no matter what the addiction is. The only difference is that the substance addict is getting the dopamine from an outside source, where the behavior addict is having it triggered from the particular behavior.
Childhood Trauma is defined as “The experience of an event by a child that is emotionally painful or distressful, which often results in lasting mental and physical effects.” (The National Institute of Mental Health). Childhood trauma is an epidemic that seems to be running its way throughout the world. Childhood trauma is a worldwide problem that can affect anyone and everyone. People tend to just try and help the problems that occur due to the childhood trauma, but not the problem itself. Many of these issues will also follow the child into their adult years and will cause negative effects. This paper will discuss the negative outcomes for a child who suffers from childhood trauma, and the negative outcomes that can follow them into adulthood.
Thorough research has been conducted on the impact of childhood abuse on younger adults, or adults younger than age 65 (Sullivan, T. P. et al, 2006; Chartier, M.J., Walker, J.R., Nalmark, B. 2009). However, due to the lack of research on the impact of childhood abuse on older adults ages 65 and above, this research will be an exploratory design. Exploratory research is done when there is little literature on a topic (Krysik & Finn, 2013). Under the pre-experimental research design, this experiment will be a one-shot case study (Krysik & Finn, 2013). No intervention will be used in the experiment, since we are just trying to learn how previous child abuse affects the participants mental health.
The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study was done by Dr. Vince Felitti and Dr. Bob Anda at the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) and together, they asked 17,500 adults about their exposure to what they called “adverse childhood experiences,”
Behaviors seen in children with developmental trauma include, but are not limited to, sleep disturbances, aggression, substance abuse, learning disabilities, trouble focusing, low self-esteem, and unhealthy attachments and relationships with others (Waters, 2000). Undetected developmental trauma presents as disruptive behavior in school, delinquent behavior in social settings, and abusive behavior in families, and researchers are increasingly finding connections between childhood traumas and adult health and behavior (Feletti & Anda, 2009). Trauma in early childhood leaves a lasting impression on a person and how they develop relationships into adulthood (Lord, 2008). Not only does this trauma have an impact on the way that a child views future relationships and themselves, but it can also lead to re-victimization and possibly continuing the cycle of abuse (pp. 111).
PSYC 124 Reflection Paper 1.Reflect upon what you have learned about the ACE study. Describe what ACEs are and how this key information changes the way healthcare providers think about common chronic conditions. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) refer to traumatic events or situations that occur during childhood (0-17 years), including abuse, neglect and household dysfunction. The ACEs study identified various categories of ACEs, such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, growing up in a family with substance misuse or mental illness, parental separation or divorce, exposure to domestic violence, incarceration of household members, and having a family member attempt or die by suicide (Centers
Emotional abuse can be understood as the “failure to provide children with an emotional environment conducive to adequate psychological, developmental and physical progress to ac...
Every individual has a distinctive perspective which determines their actions, and growth, it is the sole entity with enough power to either make or break a being. We all have the freedom and absolute control of our mentality. Simply because you grew up in a racist environment does not take away your free will to be and think what you wish. In addition, discovering ourselves is a lifelong task, we are constantly evolving and changing. Who we once were is not, and does not have to be, who we are for the rest of our lives. Your decisions will define you, but who you are right now, not who you will forever be or have always been. Traumatic experiences and crisis can have an impact on an individual's life, many factors are in place, and it can
ACE was defined, as any type of abuse experienced prior to age eighteen, whether be emotional or physical. This research points out that those who suffered from ACE most likely developed risky behavior later in life because that was a way for them (him/her) to cope. The ACE research proves that there is a direct line to alcoholism, smoking and other addictions, homelessness, mental health issues, and incarceration (in Heather Larkin , Brooke A. Beckos & Joseph J. Shields (2012) Mobilizing Resilience and Recovery in Response to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE): A Restorative Integral Support (RIS) Case Study, Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 40:4,
Understanding the correlation between a child abuse and the possible effects it may have on a growing child is vital. This study suggested that the long-term impacts of child abuse included disease risk factors, adverse quality of life, and mortality. A total of 8,506 participants were utilized ranging from 19-92 years old. Overall, groups were similar in their years of education and gender; however, race was not accounted for evenly. White participants made up about79% of the participant pool while the remainder subjects were of mixed races. The Adverse Childhood Experience Study (ACE) was used to measure the participants. Within this study, three categories of abuse were reviewed: psychological, physical, and contact sexual abuse. The ACE questionnaires were mailed out to all participants, and addressed childhood abuse issues while growing up. The questions were derived from several other screening tests. For example, to identify sexual abuse, questions from the Wyatt Test were used. One question read “As a child were you ever raped or sexually molested?” Results from this study revealed a prevalence and risk increase for those who experienced childhood abuse relating to depression, suicide attempts, poor overall health, and obesity. There was also an indication of increase in the use of illicit drugs and