Chapter 5: Child Development and ParentingAttachment Styles
  • ACEs and PACEs

    • ACEs and PACEs

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    ACEsPACEs
    Validated by: (Lindsey Benham, Emily Vaden, Emma Vaden, Emma James, Emma Canann, Rebekah Black, Isabelle Roberts, Molly Fairbanks, Madison Giles)
    Disclaimer: ChatGPT was used in creating this page.


    Summary

    ACEs stand for Adverse Childhood Experiences, which refers to a range of traumatic experiences that can occur during childhood, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, and exposure to violence or substance abuse. Research has shown that ACEs can have a significant impact on a person's physical and mental health later in life.

    In contrast, PACEs stand for Positive and Compensatory Experiences. PACEs are positive experiences that protect children from mental and physical abuse and increase resilience. Adults who had PACEs in their childhood experience fewer health problems in their later years, even if they did experience ACEs (Ratliff).

    ACEs


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    ACEs Quiz

    The ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) quiz typically includes a list of 10 questions that ask about different types of traumatic experiences that may have occurred during a person's childhood. It's important to note that the questions and the number of questions may vary depending on the source or the study. Here is an example of some of the questions that might be included in an ACEs quiz:

    1. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often push, grab, slap, or hit you?
    2. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you?
    3. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt?
    4. Did you often or very often feel that no one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special?
    5. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often tell you that you were bad or worthless?
    6. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often do things that made you feel confused like you didn't know what was going on or what to do?
    7. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often leave you alone or with others who were too young to take care of you?
    8. Were you ever touched sexually by anyone or made to touch someone else sexually?
    9. Were you ever physically forced to have any sexual activity by anyone?
    10. Did you ever see or hear your parents or other adults in your household being physically violent towards each other?


    Consequences

    Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can have a wide range of negative consequences that can last well into adulthood. These can include:

    1. Physical health problems: heart disease, diabetes, and obesity
    2. Mental health problems: increased risk of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
    3. Substance abuse: drug misuse, addiction, smoking, and underage drinking
    4. Social and economic problems: the ability to form healthy relationships, maintain employment, and achieve financial stability.
    5. Cognitive and behavioral problems: ability to learn, concentrate, and make healthy decisions
    6. Educational problems: succeed in school and achieve their educational goals
    7. Legal problems: risk of involvement in the criminal justice system.
    8. Poor parenting: affects an individual's ability to parent their children healthily, leading to a cycle of intergenerational trauma

    Despite childhood circumstances, students can heal and overcome the challenging effects of neglect and abuse if nurtured by the following, which we call PACEs.

    PACEs

    Like ACEs, PACEs have ten roles that can help children grow and develop healthily. 

    As a teacher, you play a key role in the lives of your students. You can help implement PACEs into your students' lives by encouraging them to get involved in sports or clubs, providing opportunities to meet people of different backgrounds, and teaching them healthy eating and sleeping habits. Your support can help increase social skills and decrease feelings of loneliness (Ratliff).

    Criticisms

    1. The study of ACEs comes from a biomedical perspective; therefore, it may overlook socioeconomic factors such as poverty or lack of healthcare. 

    2. Overemphasis on individual responsibility: Some critics argue that ACE research places too much emphasis on individual responsibility for addressing the consequences of childhood trauma. They suggest that the focus should be more on systemic change to prevent childhood trauma from occurring in the first place.

    3. Limited scope: Critics also argue that ACE research has a limited scope, as it primarily focuses on individual-level experiences of trauma and neglect. This overlooks the broader societal factors that contribute to the prevalence of childhood trauma, such as poverty, discrimination, and social inequality. 

    4. Questionable measurement tools: Some researchers have raised concerns about the accuracy and validity of the measurement tools used to assess ACEs. They suggest that the ACEs questionnaire may not capture the full range of childhood trauma experiences or adequately differentiate between types and severity of trauma. 

    5. Risk factor approach: Critics also argue that the ACEs research can perpetuate a risk-factor approach that stigmatizes individuals who have experienced childhood trauma. This approach can lead to blaming individuals for the consequences of their trauma and ignoring the systemic factors that contribute to their experiences.

    6. Lack of focus on resilience: Finally, some critics argue that the ACEs research has limited attention to the role of resilience in mitigating the effects of childhood trauma. They suggest that a more comprehensive approach that recognizes the protective factors and strengths of individuals and communities could provide a more holistic approach to addressing the effects of childhood trauma. 

    Check Your Understanding

    Which of the following are NOT questions that would be used on an ACE quiz?

    1. Did your parents show you unconditional love when you were a child?
    2. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often push, grab, slap, or hit you?
    3. Were you ever touched sexually by anyone or made to touch someone sexually?
    4. Were you involved in social groups growing up?
    5. Was your home clean when you were younger?

    Which of the following is NOT considered a protective factor against ACEs?

    1. Positive familial relationships
    2. A strong community support system
    3. Access to mental health services
    4. Alcohol consumption

    What are the effects of ACEs?

    1. Individual parenting in an unhealthy way, leading to intergenerational trauma
    2. An increased risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, or obesity
    3. An increased risk of depression, anxiety, PTSD and other diseases
    4. An inability to succeed in school and academics

    References and further reading:

    Here are two references about self-actualization:

    This content is provided to you freely by BYU-I Books.

    Access it online or download it at https://books.byui.edu/development_motivati/wpGBhEIH.