Adverse childhood experiences and sources of childhood resilience: a retrospective study of their combined relationships with child health and educational attendance

Abstract Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) including maltreatment and exposure to household stressors can impact the health of children. Community factors that provide support, friendship and opportunities for development may build children’s resilience and protect them against some ha...

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Main Authors: Mark A. Bellis, Karen Hughes, Kat Ford, Katie A. Hardcastle, Catherine A. Sharp, Sara Wood, Lucia Homolova, Alisha Davies
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-06-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5699-8
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spelling doaj-34f2c155251d4a34844848b5130fc48f2020-11-25T00:45:15ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582018-06-0118111210.1186/s12889-018-5699-8Adverse childhood experiences and sources of childhood resilience: a retrospective study of their combined relationships with child health and educational attendanceMark A. Bellis0Karen Hughes1Kat Ford2Katie A. Hardcastle3Catherine A. Sharp4Sara Wood5Lucia Homolova6Alisha Davies7College of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Bangor UniversityCollege of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Bangor UniversityCollege of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Bangor UniversityPolicy, Research and International Development Directorate, Public Health WalesCollege of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Bangor UniversityPolicy, Research and International Development Directorate, Public Health WalesPolicy, Research and International Development Directorate, Public Health WalesPolicy, Research and International Development Directorate, Public Health WalesAbstract Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) including maltreatment and exposure to household stressors can impact the health of children. Community factors that provide support, friendship and opportunities for development may build children’s resilience and protect them against some harmful impacts of ACEs. We examine if a history of ACEs is associated with poor childhood health and school attendance and the extent to which such outcomes are counteracted by community resilience assets. Methods A national (Wales) cross-sectional retrospective survey (n = 2452) using a stratified random probability sampling methodology and including a boost sample (n = 471) of Welsh speakers. Data collection used face-to-face interviews at participants’ places of residence. Outcome measures were self-reported poor childhood health, specific conditions (asthma, allergies, headaches, digestive disorders) and school absenteeism. Results Prevalence of each common childhood condition, poor childhood health and school absenteeism increased with number of ACEs reported. Childhood community resilience assets (being treated fairly, supportive childhood friends, being given opportunities to use your abilities, access to a trusted adult and having someone to look up to) were independently linked to better outcomes. In those with ≥4 ACEs the presence of all significant resilience assets (vs none) reduced adjusted prevalence of poor childhood health from 59.8 to 21.3%. Conclusions Better prevention of ACEs through the combined actions of public services may reduce levels of common childhood conditions, improve school attendance and help alleviate pressures on public services. Whilst the eradication of ACEs remains unlikely, actions to strengthen community resilience assets may partially offset their immediate harms.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5699-8Adverse childhood experiencesResilienceSchool attendanceDigestive diseasesAsthma
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Mark A. Bellis
Karen Hughes
Kat Ford
Katie A. Hardcastle
Catherine A. Sharp
Sara Wood
Lucia Homolova
Alisha Davies
spellingShingle Mark A. Bellis
Karen Hughes
Kat Ford
Katie A. Hardcastle
Catherine A. Sharp
Sara Wood
Lucia Homolova
Alisha Davies
Adverse childhood experiences and sources of childhood resilience: a retrospective study of their combined relationships with child health and educational attendance
BMC Public Health
Adverse childhood experiences
Resilience
School attendance
Digestive diseases
Asthma
author_facet Mark A. Bellis
Karen Hughes
Kat Ford
Katie A. Hardcastle
Catherine A. Sharp
Sara Wood
Lucia Homolova
Alisha Davies
author_sort Mark A. Bellis
title Adverse childhood experiences and sources of childhood resilience: a retrospective study of their combined relationships with child health and educational attendance
title_short Adverse childhood experiences and sources of childhood resilience: a retrospective study of their combined relationships with child health and educational attendance
title_full Adverse childhood experiences and sources of childhood resilience: a retrospective study of their combined relationships with child health and educational attendance
title_fullStr Adverse childhood experiences and sources of childhood resilience: a retrospective study of their combined relationships with child health and educational attendance
title_full_unstemmed Adverse childhood experiences and sources of childhood resilience: a retrospective study of their combined relationships with child health and educational attendance
title_sort adverse childhood experiences and sources of childhood resilience: a retrospective study of their combined relationships with child health and educational attendance
publisher BMC
series BMC Public Health
issn 1471-2458
publishDate 2018-06-01
description Abstract Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) including maltreatment and exposure to household stressors can impact the health of children. Community factors that provide support, friendship and opportunities for development may build children’s resilience and protect them against some harmful impacts of ACEs. We examine if a history of ACEs is associated with poor childhood health and school attendance and the extent to which such outcomes are counteracted by community resilience assets. Methods A national (Wales) cross-sectional retrospective survey (n = 2452) using a stratified random probability sampling methodology and including a boost sample (n = 471) of Welsh speakers. Data collection used face-to-face interviews at participants’ places of residence. Outcome measures were self-reported poor childhood health, specific conditions (asthma, allergies, headaches, digestive disorders) and school absenteeism. Results Prevalence of each common childhood condition, poor childhood health and school absenteeism increased with number of ACEs reported. Childhood community resilience assets (being treated fairly, supportive childhood friends, being given opportunities to use your abilities, access to a trusted adult and having someone to look up to) were independently linked to better outcomes. In those with ≥4 ACEs the presence of all significant resilience assets (vs none) reduced adjusted prevalence of poor childhood health from 59.8 to 21.3%. Conclusions Better prevention of ACEs through the combined actions of public services may reduce levels of common childhood conditions, improve school attendance and help alleviate pressures on public services. Whilst the eradication of ACEs remains unlikely, actions to strengthen community resilience assets may partially offset their immediate harms.
topic Adverse childhood experiences
Resilience
School attendance
Digestive diseases
Asthma
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5699-8
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