Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are significant factors impacting individuals’ lives, and understanding them is crucial for educators and anyone working with children. The CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study is a landmark research project that provides valuable insights into the prevalence and impact of ACEs. This article delves into the definitions, demographics of participants, and prevalence of ACEs as outlined by the Kaiser Permanente study, offering a foundational understanding for those in the education field and beyond.
Defining Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
The Kaiser Permanente ACE Study meticulously defined ACEs, categorizing them into three primary domains: abuse, neglect, and household challenges. It’s important to note that all ACE questions in the study refer to events occurring before the age of 18.
Categories of ACEs:
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Abuse: This category encompasses:
- Emotional Abuse: Verbal mistreatment, including being sworn at, insulted, put down, or made to feel afraid of physical harm by a parent, stepparent, or adult in the home.
- Physical Abuse: Physical harm inflicted by a parent, stepparent, or adult in the home, such as pushing, grabbing, slapping, throwing objects, or hitting resulting in marks or injuries.
- Sexual Abuse: Any sexual contact or exploitation by an adult at least 5 years older, including touching, fondling, or attempted intercourse.
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Household Challenges: This category includes adversities within the family environment:
- Mother Treated Violently: Witnessing domestic violence against the mother or stepmother by the father, stepfather, or mother’s boyfriend.
- Substance Abuse in the Household: Living with a household member who had a problem with alcohol or street drugs.
- Mental Illness in the Household: Having a household member suffering from depression, mental illness, or who attempted suicide.
- Parental Separation or Divorce: Experiencing parental separation or divorce.
- Incarcerated Household Member: Having a household member who went to prison.
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Neglect: This category, collected in Wave 2 of the study, is divided into:
- Emotional Neglect: Lack of emotional support and connection within the family, including feeling unimportant, unloved, or experiencing a family that was not a source of strength and support.
- Physical Neglect: Lack of basic care and safety, such as not having someone to care for you, protect you, take you to the doctor, experiencing food insecurity, or living in conditions where parents were unable to care for you due to substance abuse, or having to wear dirty clothes.
Alt: Demographic table of participants in the CDC-Kaiser ACE Study, showing gender, race/ethnicity, age and education percentages.
Participant Demographics in the Kaiser Permanente ACE Study
The demographic data from the Kaiser Permanente ACE Study provides a profile of the 17,337 participants involved in Waves 1 and 2. Understanding these demographics is essential when interpreting the prevalence data.
Key Demographic Insights:
- Gender: The sample was predominantly female, with 54.0% women and 46.0% men participating.
- Race/Ethnicity: The majority of participants were White (74.8%), followed by Hispanic (11.2%), Asian/Pacific Islander (7.2%), Black (4.5%), and Other (2.3%).
- Age: A significant portion of the participants were aged 60 and over (46.4%), with other age groups represented as: 50-59 (19.9%), 40-49 (18.6%), 30-39 (9.8%), and 19-29 (5.3%).
- Education: The educational background of participants varied, with 39.3% being college graduates or higher, 35.9% having some college education, 17.6% being high school graduates, and 7.2% not having completed high school.
It’s important to note that demographic information can slightly vary across research papers utilizing Wave 1 and/or Wave 2 data.
Prevalence of ACEs: Findings from the Kaiser Permanente Study
The Kaiser Permanente ACE Study revealed significant prevalence rates of ACEs among participants. These findings are broken down by ACE category and gender, offering a detailed look at the scope of childhood adversity.
ACE Prevalence by Category:
| ACE Category | Women (Percent) | Men (Percent) | Total (Percent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABUSE | |||
| Emotional Abuse | 13.1% | 7.6% | 10.6% |
| Physical Abuse | 27.0% | 29.9% | 28.3% |
| Sexual Abuse | 24.7% | 16.0% | 20.7% |
| HOUSEHOLD CHALLENGES | |||
| Mother Treated Violently | 13.7% | 11.5% | 12.7% |
| Substance Abuse | 29.5% | 23.8% | 26.9% |
| Mental Illness | 23.3% | 14.8% | 19.4% |
| Parental Separation/Divorce | 24.5% | 21.8% | 23.3% |
| Incarcerated Household Member | 5.2% | 4.1% | 4.7% |
| NEGLECT | |||
| Emotional Neglect | 16.7% | 12.4% | 14.8% |
| Physical Neglect | 9.2% | 10.7% | 9.9% |
Source: CDC-Kaiser ACE Study, Waves 1 and 2.
Alt: Table showing the prevalence of different categories of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) among participants of the CDC-Kaiser ACE Study, broken down by gender and total percentages.
ACE Score Prevalence
The ACE score, representing the total number of different types of ACEs experienced, is a critical metric. The Kaiser Permanente study also examined the prevalence of different ACE scores.
| ACE Score | Women (Percent) | Men (Percent) | Total (Percent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 34.5% | 38.0% | 36.1% |
| 1 | 24.5% | 27.9% | 26.0% |
| 2 | 15.5% | 16.4% | 15.9% |
| 3 | 10.3% | 8.5% | 9.5% |
| 4 or More | 15.2% | 9.2% | 12.5% |
Source: CDC-Kaiser ACE Study, Waves 1 and 2.
Alt: Table illustrating the prevalence of ACE scores, ranging from 0 to 4 or more, among participants in the CDC-Kaiser ACE Study, categorized by gender and total percentages.
Conclusion: Kaiser Learnings and the Importance of ACEs Awareness
The Kaiser Permanente ACE Study provides crucial data for understanding the widespread nature of adverse childhood experiences. Kaiser Learnings from this study underscore the importance of recognizing and addressing ACEs in various sectors, especially education. Educators who understand the impact of ACEs can create more supportive and trauma-informed learning environments. By being aware of the prevalence and categories of ACEs, schools and educational institutions can better support students who may have experienced childhood adversity, fostering resilience and promoting positive educational outcomes. This knowledge is a vital step towards building a more compassionate and effective education system.
Note: Prevalence estimates may vary slightly in research papers using Wave 1 and/or Wave 2 data. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kaiser Permanente. The ACE Study Survey Data [Unpublished Data]. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2016.
