More Than a Tough Childhood: Long-term Effects of Childhood Stress

Content warning: Traumatic things that can happen during childhood are referenced below.

Childhood sets the foundation for much of our future. We develop our minds through learning about the world around us, both in and out of school. We grow our bodies, expanding and changing at incredible rates. We connect with the people around us—caregivers, siblings, teachers, peers. Is it any wonder that difficult events during this important time in our lives can impact us well into the future?

In the 1990s, a study was done to get a better idea of to what extent childhood stress effects us as adults. They asked over 17,000 people the same 10 questions about things that had happened during their childhood. Those questions follow.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Questionnaire

Prior to your 18th birthday:

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 least 5 years older than you ever… Touch or fondle you or have you touch their body in a sexual way? OR Attempt or actually have oral or anal 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 go to prison?

69.9% of the people who responded reported they had experienced at least one of the things above, an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE). 21.5% reported 4 or more ACEs. A follow up study by the Philadelphia ACE Project in 2012 and 2013 added questions related to community factors. Those questions asked about: witnessing violence, feeling discriminated against, sense of safety in one’s neighborhood, bullying, and living in foster care. The Philadelphia ACE Project found that 83.2% of people had at least one ACE, and 37.3% reported 4 or more ACEs.

You might be wondering why it matters, beyond it being sad that children experience these things. By surveying adults, researchers were able to assess what had happened after those childhood experiences. What they found was that greater numbers of ACEs correlated with greater problems with health and life circumstances. This was particularly true in people who had 4 or more ACEs. The health problems people were more likely to experience included asthma, heart disease, cancer, and more. People were also more likely to experience depression, addiction to substances, and unemployment.

Not everyone with an ACE or even several ACEs would necessarily experience problems like those mentioned above. There are protective factors, things that reduce the impact of ACEs, that any given person may have. If you did experience any of the ACEs listed above, however, you may benefit from talking to a therapist about them to address any effects on your mental health.

Sources:

Philadelphia ACE Project: https://www.philadelphiaaces.org/

National Human Trafficking Training & Technical Assistance Center: https://nhttac.acf.hhs.gov/soar/eguide/stop/adverse_childhood_experiences

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/aces/index.html