Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesEarly ResearchRisk FactorsIncidenceImpactPreventionCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Types

Early Research

Risk Factors

Incidence

Impact

Prevention

Coping

Close

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that occur before the age of 18. They can have lasting, cumulative effects on mental and physical health and overall well-being far into adulthood.Here’s a look attraumatic experiencesin childood, their effects, and some coping strategies to try.

What to Know About Traumatic Shock

Types of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Examples of ACEs include:

In 1995, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in conjunction with Kaiser Permanente, became the first to explore the consequences of childhood trauma on adult well-being. They interviewed roughly 17,000 people about various traumatic childhood experiences such as abuse, violence, neglect, and abandonment.An estimated 66% of respondents said they’d experienced at least one ACE; 20% had experienced three ACEs. The researchers noted associations between ACEs and physical health issues such as heart disease and cancer even years later.

ACEs don’t happen randomly. Many factors make a child more likely to experience an ACE, including:

Racial disparities in the data are prevalent. About 61% of Black children, 51% of Hispanic children, 23% of Asian children, and 40% of white children had experienced an ACE.

All children have difficult experiences at times, but they generally can learn from their experiences and become stronger with the proper tools. ACEs, however, are more difficult to overcome and can leave lasting scars, especially if the child lacks support.

ACEs can cause “toxic stress,” which floods the body enough to cause changes to the metabolic, immune, cardiovascular, brain, and nervous systems.Their effects are cumulative: The more ACEs a child experiences, the greater impact it can have on mental and physical health.

ACEs and toxic stress may be associated with:

Mental Health Effects of Different Types of Abuse

According to the CDC, preventing ACEs in children requires a multipronged group effort. Here are some of the top ACE prevention strategies:

Substance Use vs. Substance Abuse: What Are the Differences?

Coping With ACEs

Remember that ACEs commonly have effects for years and even decades afterward—and there are proven strategies to try as you work through them.

Press Play for Advice On Healino Childhood Wounds

Takeaways

Childhood traumascan live in our psyches and bodies for years. Feeling triggered at their mere mention is common. Talking, thinking, or even reading about ACEs can be painful. Remember that healing and recovery from ACEs are possible. You can live a full, healthy, balanced life with tools and strategies a healthcare professional can offer.

Signs of Childhood Trauma in Adults

8 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Harvard University.ACEs and Toxic Stress: Frequently Asked Questions.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About the CDC-Kaiser ACE Study.

Felitti V, Anda R, Nordenberg D.Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults. American Journal of Preventative Medicine. 1998;14(4):P245-258. doi:10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00017-8

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Risk and Protective Factors.

Swedo EA, Aslam MV, Dahlberg LL, et al.Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences Among U.S. Adults — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2011–2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:707–715. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7226a2

Merrick M, Ford D, Ports K, Guinn A.Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences From the 2011-2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 23 States. JAMA Pediatrics. 2018;172(11):1038–1044. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.2537National Conference of State Legislatures.Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Merrick M, Ford D, Ports K, Guinn A.Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences From the 2011-2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 23 States. JAMA Pediatrics. 2018;172(11):1038–1044. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.2537

National Conference of State Legislatures.Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?