Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) - Assessment Answer

Introduction

Trauma is defined as an emotional response to atrocious events like natural disasters, or accidents (American Psychological Association, 2022). Traumatic events vary from person to person as the same event may be more traumatic for one person than for another (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2023). Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) is described as a disturbing event that children may witness during their childhood which has a serious effect on the children (Emerging Minds, 2023). This essay will discuss various trauma that children experience and has an adverse effect on them. The essay will also focus on various therapy and programs which will help the children to overcome the trauma.

Characteristics and Impact of Trauma

The characteristics of trauma include extremely strong emotions of terror, helplessness, or horror at the time of the incident, intrusive memories or ideas that might trigger flashbacks, nightmares, negative shifts in cognition or mood, such as feelings of shame or guilt, false self-blame, and memory issues (NCH Healthcare System, 2022). Adverse Childhood Experiences have a massive impact on children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). The study conducted by Boullier & Blair (2018) highlights the long-term poor health that has been observed in people who have experienced multiple ACEs. According to a survey conducted in Wales in 2015, among 2028 adults, 47% have experienced at least one ACEs. The authors also found that ACEs affect the development of the brain and immune system. Children who experience ACEs have high levels of stress in their surroundings due to which they are more likely to develop behaviors that are harmful to health.

Trauma from Specific Sources

Divorce is one of the factors that cause stress in a child’s life. The children experience feelings of fear, disappointment, uncertainty, and anger. For children, divorce is a violation of trust as they see their parents separating. Divorce is a powerful trauma that causes an environment of chronic stress, the feeling of uncertainty, and causes economic strain on one of the divorcing partners (Center for Child Counselling, 2019). The study conducted by Vederhus et al., (2022) highlights that parental separation has a negative effect on the quality of life in adulthood for children who lacked support from trusted adults that are their parents in childhood only. The author also found that lack of support from the parents should be considered and assessed as an autonomous childhood burden.

Family violence is defined as any violence between family members when the perpetrator has control over another person or exercises power. When a child experiences family violence, then the assassin is either the parents or guardian or someone in a relationship with the child's parents. A person who is in a position of trust can also be the perpetrator (Australian Government, 2023). According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), approximately 275 million children across the world are exposed to family violence. Students tend to lack a sense of security and may develop a view of an unsafe place. Children become vulnerable and anxious as they witness family violence and live in constant fear and uncertainty. Some of the children become isolated and face difficulties in making connections with friends (World Bank Family Network, 2022).

Parental incarceration refers to a father or mother who has a history of being imprisoned. Children associated with parental incarceration have poor mental health such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression (NYC Health, 2021). Young adults who have incarcerated parents are more likely to have economic, mental, educational, and physical health problems (Pediatrics Nationwide, 2019). The study conducted by Beresford et al., (2020) highlights the health impact due to parental incarceration. Imprisonment of household members is considered one of the ten adverse ACEs that have a prominent impact on the health of children. The author also observed through an American study that children with incarcerated parents experience health issues which include attention deficit disorder, speech or language problems, learning disabilities, and physical health conditions like obesity and asthma.

Bullying is defined as a deliberate and ongoing misuse of power in the relationship through physical, verbal, or social behavior. Bullying intends to cause psychological, social, and physical harm (National Centre Against Bullying, n.d.). A child who is bullied experiences mental health effects that are negative. The child experiences loneliness, isolation, and feelings of sadness. Cyberbullying also adds to the stress due to its indefinite, immediate, permanent, and viral nature. Bullying causes emotional injury and also affects the point of view of how children see the world and where they feel safe and secure (Stop Bullying, 2017). Bullying also contributes to violence in youth which causes social and psychological problems and also acts as an obstacle to learning (Urbanski, 2019). Bullying is also considered one of the major factors that result in a negative impact on children and their health (Baiden, et al., 2020).

Therapy and Programs to Overcome Trauma

Some different programs and approaches help children and youths deal with and overcome ACEs. One such program is Arts therapy to help people explore and express their emotions, thoughts, and feelings. Arts therapy incorporates creative mediums like painting, sculpture, music, dance, and theatre. Students can learn coping mechanisms to deal with the emotional impacts of trauma with the aid of arts therapy. Drawing or painting, for instance, can be a way to unwind, while music or dance can be a way to let out pent-up feelings. The limitation for this therapy is that non-creative people may not benefit from art therapy and it takes time to work. To obtain real improvements, the individual and therapist need commitment and patience (Department of Education, 2022).

A positive psychology programme called The Resilience Project can be used to assist those who have endured trauma. It focuses on fostering psychological resilience, which is the capacity of an individual to adjust to and deal with stress, trauma, and adversity. Mindfulness can improve self-awareness and self-compassion. Compassion involves self- and other-kindness. It can help trauma survivors accept themselves and bond with others. The limitation to this program is that it emphasizes individual resilience and coping abilities rather than systemic or structural causes of mental health difficulties. This may limit its ability to address social and cultural elements affecting mental health (Department of Education, 2022).

Another such program is the Dogs Connect programme. Interacting with the therapy dog and handler improves social skills. Traumatised people often isolate themselves. Dogs Connect promotes socialisation and reduces isolation. Some people have allergies or phobias to therapy dogs, making the Dogs Connect programme problematic for them. Some people can't get Dogs Connect therapy since it's not offered everywhere (Department of Education, 2022).

Conclusion

In conclusion, trauma is a long-lasting and severe emotional shock and pain which is caused due to extremely devastating experiences. ACEs are an unpleasant event that children face in their childhood and have an adverse effect on their physical, social, and mental health. ACEs include divorce or separation of the parents, family violence, bullying, and parental incarceration. ACEs have adverse effects on the health of the children like sleeping disorders, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. ACEs vary from person to person. An individual who has experienced ACEs is at a greater risk of experiencing chronic disease throughout their life. Programs like the Resilience Project, art therapy, and the Dogs Connect programme help children to cope with the traumas.

References

ACEs Aware. (2023). Trauma-Informed Care. https://www.acesaware.org/ace-fundamentals/principles-of-trauma-informed-care/

American Psychological Association. (2022). Trauma. https://www.apa.org/topics/trauma

Australian Government. (2023). Australia's children. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/australias-children/contents/justice-and-safety/children-exposed-to-family-violence

Baiden, P., LaBrenz, C. A., Okine, L., Thrasher, S., & Asiedua-Baiden, G. (2020). The toxic duo: Bullying involvement and adverse childhood experiences as factors associated with school disengagement among children. Children and Youth Services Review, 119, 105383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105383

Beresford, S., Loucks, N., & Raikes, B. (2020). The health impact on children affected by parental imprisonment. BMJ Paediatrics Open, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmjpo-2018-000275

Boullier, M., & Blair, M. (2018). Adverse childhood experiences. Paediatrics and Child Health, 28(3), 132-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paed.2017.12.008

Center for Child Counselling. (2019). ACEs and Divorce. https://www.centerforchildcounseling.org/aces-and-divorce/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Adverse Childhood Experiences. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.html

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2023). Trauma. https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/trauma

Department of Education. (2022). Art therapy. https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/health/mentalhealth/mental-health-menu/Pages/Menu-Item.aspx?queryid=7

Department of Education. (2022). Dogs Connect Program: Whole School Approach to Connectedness and Wellbeing. https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/health/mentalhealth/mental-health-menu/Pages/Menu-Item.aspx?queryid=65

Department of Education. (2022). The Resilience Project – School Partnership Program. https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/health/mentalhealth/mental-health-menu/Pages/Menu-Item.aspx?queryid=43

Emerging Minds. (2023). Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and children’s wellbeing – parent fact sheet. https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/adverse-childhood-experiences-aces-and-childrens-wellbeing-parent-fact-sheet/#why-is-it-helpful-to-know-and-talk-about-aces

National Centre Against Bullying. (n.d.). Definition of bullying. https://www.ncab.org.au/bullying-advice/bullying-for-parents/definition-of-bullying/

NCH Health System. (2022). Overview. https://nchmd.org/health-library/articles/con-20257458/

NYC Health. (2021). Parental Incarceration and Well-being among Adolescents in New York City Public High Schools. https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/survey/parental-incarceration.pdf

Pediatrics Nationwide. (2019). A Hidden Epidemic: Parental Incarceration and What To Do When It Affects Your Patients. https://pediatricsnationwide.org/2019/09/18/a-hidden-epidemic-parental-incarceration-and-what-to-do-when-it-affects-your-patients/

Stop Bullying. (2017). Bullying as an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE). https://www.stopbullying.gov/sites/default/files/2017-10/bullying-as-an-ace-fact-sheet.pdf

Urbanski, J. (2019). Bullying is an adverse childhood experience. Journal of Health Science Education, 3(1), e104. 10.0000/JHSE.1000e104

Vederhus, J. K., Haugland, S. H., & Timko, C. (2022). A mediational analysis of adverse experiences in childhood and quality of life in adulthood. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 31(1), e1904. 10.1002/mpr.1904

World Bank Family Network. (2022). The Effect of Domestic Abuse on Children. https://www.wbfn.org/article/effect-domestic-abuse-children-0

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