What’s Your ACE Score?

Between 1995 and 1997, researchers from Kaiser Permanente collected data on the relationship between various early difficult life events and later health conditions and behaviors.  What resulted was one of the most important studies in mental health history.  

They conducted the study by collecting information on individuals’ current health status and the type and number of certain negative childhood experiences they had had, which they referred to as Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs.  They found that the more adverse childhood experiences a person had, the more likely the individual was to have negative social and health consequences as an adult. 

They found that ACEs were common in the population, with about one third of participants reporting at least one ACE, and one in five reported three or more ACEs. 

But the higher the ACE score, the worse the projected outcome.  For example, according to the study (which you can find here):

“Persons who had experienced four or more categories of childhood exposure, compared to those who had experienced none, had 4- to 12-fold increased health risks for alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, and suicide attempt; a 2- to 4-fold increase in smoking, poor self-rated health, ≥50 sexual intercourse partners, and sexually transmitted disease; and a 1.4- to 1.6-fold increase in physical inactivity and severe obesity.” 

These findings are interesting in themselves, but also significant because it may allow us to target our prevention efforts where they are most needed, and be able to better anticipate which areas may be a struggle for survivors of trauma.

But the story doesn’t end there.  People experience trauma differently and there may be other factors that influence why someone does better (however that is defined) than someone else who experienced the same types of traumas.  In 2006, a Resiliency score was added to the ACE questionnaire.  This was meant to account for positive experiences in life that may have offset the negative effects of trauma, and to show that people have strength and resilience and are not only affected by the negative things that happen to them.  It offers a more balanced view of trauma, which offers some hope that all does not have to be lost when someone goes through difficult experiences.  Support from others and other positive factors do make a difference.  

In other words: we are not “doomed” by our trauma.

The ACE and Resilience scores can help provide validation for survivors of trauma who feel like they are struggling more than they “should”, and offer hope that things can be different.  We can go through a lot as children but when we receive helpful people and experiences, some of those effects can be mitigated.  

If you would like to get your ACE score, please go here:  https://www.ncjfcj.org/sites/default/files/Finding%20Your%20ACE%20Score.pdf

To get your Resilience score, please go here:  https://www.tjjd.texas.gov/regionaltraining/webinars/resilience-score.pdf 

Information for this article was also gathered here:  https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/acestudy/about.html