Adverse Childhood Experiences Scores

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background of the study1

Alcohol and Other Drug Use in Populations3

Problem Statement5

Purpose Statement6

Significance of the study7

Research hypothesis7

Research Variables8

Independent Variables8

Dependent variable8

Research Question8

Definitions of the terms9

Abuse9

Adverse childhood experiences9

Avoidance coping9

Negative events9

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW10

The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study10

Statistics Related to Adverse Childhood Events13

Theoretical framework15

Resiliency Theory15

Coping Mechanisms17

ACEs and Psychological Distress19

Amygdala21

Prefrontal Cortex21

Depression22

Anxiety22

Social and Biological Correlates of ACEs23

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY26

Introduction26

Research philosophy: Positivism26

Research approach: deductive27

Research Design28

Sample size30

Participants of the study30

Research instruments31

Data collection31

Data analysis32

Limitations32

REFERENCES34

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background of the study According to research, the physical and mental health of the adults has been negatively affected who have had adverse childhood experiences. According to research summary, there are number of adverse childhood experiences that had an overall negative impact on the mental health of the participants in their study. During childhood and the presence of psychiatric disorders in both males and females, there was a significant relationship between adverse events have been reported. The same was found for suicidal ideation and attempts, with females who reported these events leading in the number of suicidal attempts. With the number of adverse childhood experiences, suicidal ideation and attempts were found to increase in a sample of individuals who were identified as having difficulties with substance abuse. Studies concluded that with the number of adverse events increased, there was a decrease in how the participants perceived their current state of physical and mental health.

More specifically, people who experienced four or more adverse childhood events, both male and female participants; they are significantly more somatic symptoms in the form of bodily pain. Adverse childhood experiences are also linked with insomnia and substance abuse. A relationship can be found between adverse events reported during youth and primary insomnia in adulthood. According to Hill, (2008) individuals who reported living through childhood trauma considered moderate to extreme in severity also reported disruptions in their sleep patterns significantly more often than those who either reported none or adverse childhood events of low severity. Whitfield, (2005) further explained that in predicting substance abuse, eating disorders, and other risky behaviors that impair health, adverse childhood experiences is an imminent factor. Bernet, (1999) said that there is an influence on risky sexual behavior including having multiple partners and engaging in sexual intercourse at an early age by these events. Chapman, (2007) a far-reaching impact into society can be seen among people who are affected by childhood adversities. For instance, traumatic events experienced in early life were linked to homelessness in a sample of individuals aged 14 to 25 years. Likewise, adverse events in childhood such as lack of care and physical abuse were significantly linked to homelessness in an adult population. To a variety of physical, psychological, and social difficulties in adulthood, childhood adversities have been found to be linked. However, the negative impact of the difficulties that may occur in adulthood can be decreased by healthy coping strategies.

The adult childhood experiences involves substance abuse, neglection, domestic histories and violence in the communities are the imminent concerns, which are confronted by US in ...