The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Adulthood
Written By: River O’Leary
March 22, 2024
Child Development, Genetics, and Life Experience
When we are children, we go through several developmental stages as we age and grow. Each child grows, learns, and develops differently and at their own pace from the time they are born onward. How we develop physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually is a combination of our genetics and our experiences. Some things we inherit from our parents, and other components of our development may be based on what we experience as we grow up.
Our genetics and life experiences have the potential to be combined in infinite patterns, and this is part of what makes every person unique. Our experiences can even alter our genes, as shown in the study of what is called epigenetics, causing a reaction between our genes and our experiences.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)
There are significant moments in our lives that impact us deeply, and these can happen at any age. While many of these moments can be positive, wonderful, and life-changing for the better, some of these moments can cause us fear, grief, and complete overwhelm. There is a category of negative experiences that put us at risk of negative life outcomes, called Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES).
ACES are potentially traumatic events that happen from ages 0-17 years old that can affect us in childhood and beyond. Trauma is an emotional reaction to a significant event that can happen once with intensity, a series of significant events that may have varied intensity and be ongoing, or a combination of both. Trauma affects our interconnected systems physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually.
While this list is not all-inclusive, some common ACES include:
experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect
witnessing violence in the home or community
having a family member attempt or die by suicide
growing up in a household with:
substance use problems
mental health problems
instability due to parental separation or household members being in jail or prison
not having enough food to eat
experiencing homelessness or unstable housing
experiencing discrimination
living through a natural disaster or health crisis
ACES and Adulthood
When adverse childhood events occur, the trauma cause by them can continue to affect us for our whole lives. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in adulthood and adolescence ACEs are linked to:
chronic health problems
mental illness
substance use problems in adolescence and adulthood
negative impacts on education
negative impacts on job opportunities
negative impacts on earning potential
These experiences can increase the risks of:
injury
sexually transmitted infections
maternal and child health prolems
involvement in sex trafficking
a wide range of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease
suicidal ideation and suicide
Aces Prevention
Preventing ACES include understanding risk factors for ACES, protecting children from violence, and supporting families who are experiencing hardships that can cause ACES. The CDC states that “creating and sustaining safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for all children and families can prevent ACEs and help all children reach their full potential.”
The CDC suggests that to prevent ACES, the following should occur:
Strengthening economic supports to families
Promoting social norms that protect against violence and adversity
Ensuring a strong start for children
Teaching skills to children, parents, and families
Connecting youth to caring adults and activities
Intervening to lessen immediate and long-term harms
Raising awareness of ACEs can lead to a variety of positive changes for children. People may shift their perspective around how communities can support families, and reduce the stigma of families needing mental health and financial support to be successful. Community awareness of ACES can create safer and more stable environments and relationships that nurture children where they live, play, and go to school.
Moving Forward
There are many more experiences that can cause trauma, and each person’s story is unique. Traumatic events can happen at any age and stage of life. Depending on the supports we have in life, people can be negatively affected by these events, have a neutral reaction, or grow and learn from these events.
It is important to remember that trauma is a wound that can be healed, and experiencing trauma does not doom us to an unhappy life. While it does create challenges, working through your past and current emotions can be a powerful gift of an opportunity to grow. Seeking support from loved ones, support groups, or therapy can be an important first step in healing from trauma. Even though your story is unique to you, experiencing childhood trauma is a common experience among the general population. Know that the traumatic experiences you have had are not your fault, and you are not alone.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/fastfact.html
https://harvardcenter.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Early-Experiences-
Can-Alter-Gene-Expression-and-Affect-Long-Term-Development.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7012279/
https://www.traumainformedcare.chcs.org/what-is-trauma/