Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a set of 10 negative childhood circumstances involving abuse and neglect that are consistently shown to increase the risk of adult mental health problems and physical diseases. Studies show that the risk of poor outcomes is particularly strong when children have experienced four or more ACEs.
These findings have generated a powerful narrative that has increased public awareness of how early adversity negatively impacts children’s development.
The Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) has completed a comprehensive review of the evidence underpinning this narrative to understand its implications for preventing and reducing ACEs.
It confirmed that ACEs are harmful and strongly associated with serious mental health and behavioural problems. However, it also found that many common assumptions about ACEs are not fully supported by the evidence.
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