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  • Essay / What are the effects of adverse childhood experiences?

    The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study conducted by Felitti et al. (1998) proposed that children who experienced abuse and neglect as well as dysfunctional family systems were at higher risk of developing physiological and psychological problems later in life. ACE studies have demonstrated the collective effects of adverse childhood experiences on physical and mental health problems. These disorders include: substance abuse, suicidal ideality, and depression, as well as a multitude of medical problems (Putnam, Harris, & Putnam, 2013). Additionally, the study indicated that exposure to two or more adverse childhood experiences is linked to higher rates of smoking, promiscuity, substance abuse, and eating disorders (Anda et al., 2006). There are three types of adverse childhood experiences: abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual), neglect (physical and emotional), and household dysfunction (incarceration, mental illness, parental violence, divorce, and substance abuse) (Felitti et al., 1998 and Anda et al., 2006). . The majority of brain development occurs during the first years of life. Although genetics provide the basic model of the brain, individual experiences lay the foundation for future interactions, health, learning, and developmental traumatic disorder (TDD), was proposed by Van der Kolk and D' Andrea (2010). The principle of DTD is based on research data from individuals involved in several research studies. According to Van der Kolk and D'Andrea (2010), DTD is the result of living in a fear-based environment that includes poor treatment from primary caregivers, instability, and neglect. This type of inadequate treatment is often hidden, that is, it may not be visible on the surface. Neglectful caregiver-child relationships perpetuate DTD. These interactions convey to the infant or child the message that the world is unsafe, threatening, and unreliable. This lack of emotional security is often as damaging as the lack of physical security (Van der Kolk & d'Andrea,