Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
The Adverse Childhood Experience Study originated with a questionnaire mailed 13,494 adults. The adverse childhood experiences (ACE) studied included psychological, physical, or sexual abuse; violence against mother; or living with household members who were substance abusers, mentally ill or suicidal, or ever imprisoned. The study, which was carried out in the 1990s, did not include infant circumcision.[1] [2] The study revealed that ACEs are closely related to adult health problems. ACEs are strongly associated with high-risk health behaviors in adulthood, such as smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, promiscuity, and obesity; and with ill health, including depression, heart and lung disease, cancer, and decreased lifespan.[3]
Contents
Nervous system injury
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) harm children's developing brains.[4] Fitzgerald & Walker (2003) described the effect of pain on developing nerve pathways.[5] They lead to changing how children respond to stress and damaging their immune systems so profoundly that the effects show up decades later. ACEs cause much of our chronic disease burden, most mental illness, and are at the root of violence.[6]
Health risks
ACEs have a dose-response relationship with many health problems. That is, as the number of ACEs accumulates, the greater the health risks to the individual.
ACEs come from the CDC-Kaiser Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, a groundbreaking public health study that discovered that childhood trauma leads to the adult onset of chronic diseases, depression and other mental illness, violence and being a victim of violence, as well as financial and social problems.[3]
Classification of genital cutting
Involuntary childhood genital cutting — including female genital mutilation, gender-norming surgery of intersex children, and male circumcision — is painful and traumatic and has been found to permanently alter individuals' sexuality, and to have other lifelong consequences.[7] These early traumas are not yet included on the ACE checklist.
Bollinger (2023) reported a preliminary survey comparing intact and circumcised men using the ACE test. The circumcised men had higher ACE scores than the intact men. Bollinger has called for additional study to determine if male genital cutting (circumcision) should be classified as an Adverse Childhood Experience.[7]
See also
- Circumcision and violence
- Psychological issues of male circumcision
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- Trauma
External links
References
- ↑
van der Kolk, Bessel (2015): Chapter Nine
, in: The Body Keeps the score. Pp. 140-3. ISBN 978-0-14-312774-1. Retrieved 7 August 2023. - ↑
Bollinger, Dan / Georganne Chapin: Child genital cutting as an adverse childhood experience 
, Intact America (Tarrytown). (1 August 2019). Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ↑ a b
Felitti VJ, Anda RF, Nordenberg D, Williamson DF, Spitz AM, Edwards V, Koss MP, Marks JS. Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. Am J Prev Med. May 1998; 14(4): 245-58. PMID. DOI. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ↑ Anand KJS, Scalzo FM. Can Adverse Neonatal Experiences Alter Brain Development and Subsequent Behavior?. Biol Neonate. February 2000; 77(2): 69-8210657682. PMID. DOI. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ↑ Fitzgerald M, Walker S (2003):
Progress in Pain Research and Management
, in: The role of activity in developing pain pathways.. Work: Proceedings of the 10th World Congress on Pain. Dostovsky JO, Carr DB, Koltzenburg M (eds) (ed.). Vol. 24. Seattle: IASP Press. Pp. 185-96. Retrieved 7 August 2023. - ↑
(2019). What Are ACEs?
, HCHEQ. Retrieved 6 August 2023. - ↑ a b Bollinger D. Adverse Childhood Experiences, Dysfunctional Households, and Circumcision.. Kindred. 28 February 2023; Retrieved 1 March 2023.
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