The things we go through when we’re kids can leave lasting marks on our health, behavior, and overall happiness. Experts use the term “adverse childhood experiences” (ACEs) to talk about difficult events that can cause problems later in life. People who have ACEs are more likely to develop physical and mental health issues, take risks, experience violence, and do worse in school. Recently, my team and I wanted to find out how these early struggles affect our relationships with doctors and how comfortable we feel in medical settings.
We found that people who have had ACEs often don’t trust healthcare services, which can really change how at ease they feel in hospitals and clinics. ACEs can include different tough experiences like physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; parents getting divorced; witnessing domestic violence; and living with someone who has mental health issues, abuses substances, or is in jail. These experiences can create a lot of emotional turmoil for kids, shaping how they grow up and how they interact with the world.
Sadly, ACEs are very common. Research from the UK shows that nearly half of people report having at least one ACE, and about one in ten people have four or more. Vulnerable groups, like male prisoners, show even higher numbers—over half have experienced multiple ACEs. These experiences can seriously affect brain and emotional development, making it harder for people to handle their feelings and stress. Studies also suggest that ACEs can make it tough for people to wait for something better instead of grabbing a smaller reward right away. Plus, those who face ACEs might show less cooperation and kindness, which are really important for strong communities.
Research from around the world shows a troubling connection between having multiple ACEs and a lot of negative outcomes in life. For example, people with more ACEs are more likely to develop serious illnesses, like cancer and heart disease, and face mental health issues like depression, anxiety, self-harm, and thoughts of suicide. ACEs also put pressure on healthcare systems, leading to more visits to the doctor, emergency rooms, and hospital stays. Surprisingly, people with ACEs may be less likely to go for preventive healthcare, like getting vaccinated; for instance, those with ACEs have shown lower rates of getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, ACEs can lead to a belief that public services aren’t very helpful, making people trust medical professionals less.
Even though we know a lot about ACEs, there hasn’t been much research on how they affect how people use health services or how comfortable they feel at the doctor’s office. To find out more, we conducted a big online survey with 1,696 adults from England and Wales. Our results showed a surprising reality: people with four or more ACEs felt that healthcare professionals didn’t really care about their health or understand their struggles. Plus, those with multiple ACEs felt way less comfortable in hospitals, GP clinics, and dental offices compared to those without these experiences.
In line with other studies, our research also found that people with ACEs tend to use more medications, including antibiotics, and often don’t follow prescribed treatments. The economic impact of ACEs is huge; in Wales and England, ACEs are estimated to cost a whopping £42 billion. This number reflects the serious health issues tied to ACEs, including chronic diseases like cancer and risks like smoking.
Understanding ACEs is super important for improving how people engage with healthcare. By recognizing these experiences, we can learn more about what individuals with ACEs need and adjust health services to make them feel more comfortable and build trust. This knowledge can help create healthcare environments that not only address medical issues but also support healing, ultimately improving the health and happiness of those who have faced tough times in childhood.