Final Research Paper or Project: Student Work

 Student 1: Making Macaroons

This student presented with the aid of a Canva-created media project. She also served us the macaroons that she learned how to make through her research! You can see her project here.

Student 2: The Fermi Paradox

Student 3: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)

Impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences

            Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, have many impacts, both physically and mentally. They not only affect our mental well-being, but also our physical health. Adverse Childhood Experiences are more common than you would think, 67% of the world’s population has at least one ACE. The first study on Adverse Childhood Experiences was done in 1995.

ACEs tie into trauma. “Trauma is too much too soon, too much for too long, or too little for too long.” These experiences also result in the diminishment life opportunities such as education, jobs, and income status.

There are eight domains when dealing with Adverse Childhood Experiences. Emotional Abuse; Physical Abuse; Sexual Abuse; Incarcerated Household Members; Mother Treated Violently; Parental Separation or Divorce; Substance Abuse in Household; and Mental Illness in Household.

            Adverse Childhood Experiences create stress responses. These stress responses stay active due to the traumatic experiences. These stress responses are created in an area of the brain called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which sends out what we would call fight or flight signals. MRI’s have also shown that Adverse Childhood Experiences cause measurable differences in the amygdala, where our fear response comes from.

            ACEs can cause social, emotional, and cognitive impairments. They inhibit the prefrontal cortex, which is necessary for impulse control and executive function. The prefrontal cortex is also critical for learning.

            It has been proven that you are much more likely to develop life threatening diseases at some point in your life if you have ACEs. Having a score of four or more, you are 2.5x more likely to develop Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), or hepatitis; depression is 4.5x more likely; with a score of just four ACEs, suicide becomes 12x more likely. With a score of seven, you have a triple lifetime risk of developing lung cancer, ischemic heart disease becomes 3.5x more likely. Along with health risks later in life, there is a twenty-year difference in life expectancy for someone who has Adverse Childhood Experiences compared to someone who does not.

             Along with ACEs comes higher rates of injury and mental health concerns (anxiety, depression, suicide, ptsd), maternal health issues, infectious diseases, chronic diseases (cancer, diabetes), and risky behaviors (drinking, smoking).

            According to the podcast I listened to, the body does not know the difference between physical and emotional wounds. So, when you get hurt, physically or emotionally, your body goes into self-protection, it becomes defensive, trying to protect itself. When there is defensiveness in the body, it causes inflammation. Many health complications, such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and weight gain are all constantly fueled by the inflammation response in our bodies.

I interviewed two separate people, one person with a relatively high score, and another with a lower score. Both persons will be kept anonymous for privacy. I first had each person answer a series of ten questions, the ACEs test. The questions include the following: Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often: Swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you? Or act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt? Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often: Push, grab, slap, or throw something at you? Or ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured? Did an adult or person at least 5 years older than you ever: Touch or fondle you or have you touch their body in a sexual way? Or attempt or actually have any kind of intercourse with you? Did you often or very often feel that: No one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special? Or your family did not look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other? Did you often or very often feel that: You did not have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, and had no one to protect you? Or your parents were too high or drunk to take care of you or take you to the doctor if you needed it? Were your parents ever separated or divorced? Was your mother or stepmother often or very often: pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her? Or sometimes, often or very often: kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard? Ever repeatedly hit over at least over a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife? Did you love with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic, or used street drugs? Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide? Did a household member go to prison?

I then had them answer five other reflection questions about their experiences. These questions include the following: Have you heard of Adverse Childhood Experiences before? -If so, where? Did you know before taking the test that you had any ACEs? How do you think these experiences have impacted you? -Physically and/or mentally? How would you describe having ACEs to a person who has none? Would you like to add anything else about Adverse Childhood Experiences?

The first person I interviewed, had a score of eight after taking the ACEs test. They answered yes to all of the questions except two and ten.

            They had heard of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Austin High Schools child development and working with young children’s classes. They also already knew before taking this test that they had adverse childhood experiences.

When asked how they personally feel their ACE’s have affected them, physically and/or mentally, they responded saying that “It has affected me to the point where I cannot do certain things and it just messes with my brain.” (1).

They said they would describe having ACE’s as “being in constant fear of doing something wrong,” They also said it is also “just knowing that your best isn’t going to be enough.” (1).

            When taking the Adverse Childhood Experiences test, interviewee 2 had an ACE’s score of 4, some were unable to say for sure. They answered yes to 1, 4, 8, and 9. Question 4 they said that sometimes they had money-based problems and were sometimes short on food, but that they still felt taken care of.

            Interviewee 2 has also previously heard of ACEs in the child development class at AHS. They also knew beforehand of their ACEs score.

            When asked how they think their ACEs have impacted physically and/or mentally, they responded, “I think that I am a lot more aware of mental issues and abuse related issues because of the test.” (2) “I think I am a stronger and more aware person.”

            If they were to describe having ACEs to someone who has none, they would describe it as “Having a different view on life because of the things you go through.” (2) “Things that are harder to understand and empathize with without going through them.”

            Interviewee 2 wanted to add, “I think that the ACEs test is really important and worth educating yourself on because at the end of the day everyone deserves peace and if taking the test is the start of finding and understanding yours, then it’s worth it.” (2)

            In conclusion, Adverse Childhood Experiences are so much more than just trauma. Everyone has their own traumatic experiences, and ACEs should be talked about so much more than they are. As was stated earlier, Adverse Childhood Experiences have tolls not only on our mental health, but our physical health too. People with ACEs need to be aware of all of the negative health consequences their experiences may cause them in the future, and what they can do to try and prevent them.