Keywords

adverse childhood experiences, adverse experiences, adverse events, adverse childhood events, ACEs, coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic, childhood trauma, trauma, health consequences, health status, adult health, adult health staus, children and adolescents, children, adolescents, pediatric, pediatrics

Disciplines

Nursing

Mentor

Amy Rohn

Abstract

The evaluation of an adult's health status consists of several entities. These factors can include physical, mental, and emotional health in an individual's history contributing to their overall health. When studying such factors, some researchers emphasize the importance of recognizing events experienced during a person's childhood that affect their development, and therefore, their adult health status. Today, as people continue adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in regulation of standards for socialization, it is becoming apparent to healthcare researchers how these new modifications are highly impactful to the development of children and adolescents. When studying the various factors that affect the development of this specific age group, the results of the coronavirus pandemic must be considered as an adverse childhood experience (ACE).

The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study is a research study that examines the relationship between the number of traumatic experiences throughout a person's childhood and their current health status as an adult (Felitti, 2019). This relationship shows the importance of the childhood experiences in one's lifetime and how parents and adults should protect children's exposure to sensitive events, which in turn, would decrease potential health issues later in life. One way to prevent adverse childhood experiences is to spread awareness of clinical findings through education. Healthcare providers should be responsible for teaching parents and adults to recognize adverse experiences by providing examples from evidence-based practice and education on the potential health hazards children may endure as adults. Through education, ACE-contributing factors can be lessened, or even prevented (Michigan ACE Initiative, 2019). Once ACEs, like the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine, are recognized, healthcare providers can implement healthy coping mechanisms for those who have experienced ACEs. This project involved a review of the literature pertaining to ACEs and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. A slideshow presentation was created to provide education on the components of the COVID-19 pandemic that contribute to ACEs and suggestions for how nurses can support those affected.

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