Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Understanding ACE research without turning a score into someone’s destiny

Adverse Childhood Experiences research has helped highlight important relationships between childhood adversity and later health and wellbeing. However, ACE scores are frequently misunderstood or used more broadly than the evidence supports.

This resource explains what ACE research can tell us, what an ACE score cannot tell us and why individual experiences should never be reduced to a number.

It includes:

• The original ACE research
• What an ACE score measures
• Population-level risk versus individual prediction
• Protective factors and resilience
• ACEs versus trauma
• Development and avoiding simplistic “brain damage” claims
• Debates around routine ACE screening
• Safeguarding and clinical assessment

A balanced guide to using ACE research thoughtfully without deterministic or overly simplistic conclusions.

Space to Breathe Therapy