2023 Theses Doctoral
Evaluating The Knowledge Of Adverse Childhood Experiences Survey And The Adverse Childhood Experiences Video As Brief Online E-health Interventions With Latinx Adults: Identifying Predictors Of More Severe Adverse Childhood Experiences
Given the public health crisis of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in childhood and adolescence, and the potential lifelong repercussions, this study sought to identify significant predictors of a high self-rating for having experienced ACEs in childhood/adolescence with Hispanic/Latinx adults (n=292) with 55.8% female and 81.5% U.S. born with a mean age of 33 years.
Some 52.5% presented moderately high to extremely high levels of race-related stress due to being Hispanic/Latinx; 63.6% experienced moderate to very severe toxic stress in childhood/adolescence and, 66.1% in the past year; 82.6% reported depression, 87% anxiety, and 86.2% trauma during childhood/adolescence; and, 83.1% reported depression, 89.7% anxiety, and 81.1% trauma for the past year. The study introduced the Knowledge of Adverse Childhood Experiences Survey (KACES-20) finding a moderate level of knowledge with deficits regarding how ACEs in childhood/adolescence can place individuals at risk later in life for type 2 diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure.
An ACEs video was included in the study with over 90% recommending the KACES-20 and ACEs video to others; and, together these brief online e-health interventions were associated with significant increases in knowledge of ACEs and self-efficacy for the ability to recognize ACEs in children/adolescents. After taking the KACES-20 and watching the ACEsvideo, 94.6% revealed experiencing ACEs during childhood/adolescence. Having more severe experiences of ACEs was significantly predicted by male gender, higher race-related stress due to being Hispanic/Latinx, higher toxic stress in childhood/adolescence, higher mental distress in childhood/adolescence and the past year, and a higher KACES-20 score.
Findings highlight the value of the KACES-20 and ACEs video as brief online e-health interventions, and the important contribution of a new methodology for investigating experiences of ACEs in childhood/adolescence without causing discomfort or re-traumatization. These findings have particular value as contributions to the literature, while focusing on the neglected Hispanic/Latinx population, especially at this historic time of a pandemic and post-pandemic era when ACEs have risen; and, there is an urgent need for tools for prevention and intervention. This study has provided evidence for using the KACES-20 and ACEs video, as well as the study measures for prevention and future research.
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- Alfano_tc.columbia_0055E_11402.pdf application/pdf 1.34 MB Download File
More About This Work
- Academic Units
- Health and Behavior Studies
- Thesis Advisors
- Wallace, Barbara C.
- Degree
- Ed.D., Teachers College, Columbia University
- Published Here
- October 25, 2023