Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACEs

In 1997, Dr. Vincent Felitti and Dr. Robert Anda conducted a study with about 17,000 people to see if there was a connection between the experiences they had as a child and their health outcomes as adults. They asked participants 10 questions about whether or not they had experienced abuse (physical and sexual), neglect, or household dysfunction, like having a parent who was mentally ill or in prison, or whether there was divorce or abuse of the mother. What they found was remarkable. Almost two-thirds of people had at least one of those experiences, and many had at least three or more. They also found that there was a clear relationship between these experiences and an increased risk for struggles with mental health, substance use, and suicide, and also with physical issues such as chronic pain, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers. Their Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, study has been repeated many times in many communities, with similar results. Other researchers, such as Roy Wade in Philadelphia, expanded the list of adverse experiences to include things like bullying, witnessing violence or experiencing discrimination, and living in foster care. And they found that even more people could report one of these experiences. So we know that experiences of suffering, hardship or adversity actually get into our bodies and affect how they function. The ACEs study made the case that all of us need to take this seriously and practice trauma-informed ways of being that help buffer those experiences. The research shows that the things that buffer the impact of trauma are the things we do in faith communities. Positive relationships, especially between adults and children; music and movement; meaning and purpose; prayer and meditation; service and generosity…the list goes on.