Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) refer to experiences of child abuse and neglect and family dysfunction which are strongly associated with poor physical and mental health outcomes across the lifespan. The original framework, developed in the late 1990’s, was based on a study which demonstrated a graded relationship between the number of these events experienced before 18 years and subsequent risk for disease and poor mental health by 60. Recent research has shown that particular characteristics of these experiences are more likely to be associated with poor long term outcomes including exposure, acuteness vs chronicity and severity, in addition to the effect of multiple different events.
In Australia 72% of children have experienced one such event and around 20% have been subjected to three or more, with a higher incidence in vulnerable populations.
Child and Adolescent Violence and ACE’s
There is now a significant body of research linking ACEs to serious, violent, and chronic offending in adulthood, but less work has explored ACE’S and child and adolescent aggression. A scoping review by Stoppelbein et al (2024) aimed to review the available literature and in particular the connection between early life experiences and different subtypes of aggression characterised by their own motivations, trajectories, and correlates. A second goal was to identify gaps in the literature to provide direction for future research and clinical practice.
What Did They Find?
Based on the 32 studies which met criteria, the authors assert that the evidence supports a strong relationship between ACE’s and aggression in children and adolescents and that type and number of these events may affect this outcome. A few studies attempted to understand mediating and moderating factors with demographic characteristics, relationships with parents and teachers, and comorbid mental health concerns appearing to have some influence. Only one variable, comorbid mental health symptoms, was explored in more than one study with results suggesting that post traumatic stress symptoms may be an important mediator to aggression. Given that the studies included were written in English and heavily representative of the United States there is a paucity in both cultural and social contexts leaving important questions unanswered and fertile ground for research.
In Conclusion
Adverse childhood experiences are external events which produce individual often aggressive responses that powerfully impact social and family relationships and future life trajectory. Awareness of the importance of post traumatic stress symptoms and harnessing the best of a child’s familial and educational world may help practitioners shape targeted intervention to produce better outcomes for all.
Stoppelbein,L., McRae,E. and Shana Smith,S. Exploring the Nexus of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Aggression in Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review TRAUMA, VIOLENCE, & ABUSE 2024, Vol. 25(4) 3346–3359
Correction- Last week’s Directors Notes incorrectly stated that the new legislation coming into effect on December 10 in relation to children’s access to social media would require parent consent for 14- and 15-year-olds. In fact, age-restricted social media platforms will have to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 years old from having accounts on their platforms. Thank you to my colleague for bringing this to my attention.
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