WHAT RECENT RESEARCH TELLS

US ABOUT OVERCOMING

ADVERSITY

Childaware Conference

Melbourne, March 31 – April 1, 2014

Howard Bath

Children’s Commissioner, Northern Territory

Adverse Childhood Experiences Study

Household DysfunctionSubstance abuse

Parental separation/divorce

Mental illness

Domestic violence

Criminal Behavior

AbusePsychological

Physical

Sexual

NeglectEmotional

Physical

Ace Study

Dose-Response Findings

4

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

0 1 2 3 4

% R

epo

ritn

g A

lco

ho

lism

ACE Score

We found a strong graded relationship between the

breadth of exposure to abuse or household dysfunction

during childhood and multiple risk factors …in adults Adapted from Felitti, VJ, Anda, RF et al (1998)

5

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

0 1 2 3 4

% R

ep

ori

tng

IV D

rug

Use

ACE Score

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

20%

0 1 2 3 4%

Eve

r A

ttem

pti

ng

Suic

ide

ACE Score

Source: Adapted from Felitti, VJ, Anda, RF et al (1998)

Ace Study

Dose-Response Findings

6

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

0 1 2 3 ≥4

% L

ifet

ime

His

tory

of

De

pre

ssio

n

ACE Score

Women

Men

Ace Study

Dose-Response Findings

A significant proportion

of physical, social, and

moral disorder lies in

the direct and indirect

exposure to external

traumatogenic agents.

Bloom & Farragher

The question is

not “What is

wrong with

you?” …but

“What has

happened to

you?”

Sandra Bloom

Traumatized children reset

their normal level of arousal.

Even when no external

threats exist, they are

in a persistent state

of alarm.

Bruce Perry

• social skills and

attachment

• biological systems

and medical issues

• regulation of

emotions/impulses

• dissociation

• behavioural control

• cognitive functioning

• self-concept, shame

and guilt

• future orientation

TRAUMA AFFECTS…

Michael Rutter on Resilience

The ‘steeling’ power of trauma

Helpful ways of thinking – self belief

Turning point effects

Social connections

40% - Characteristics of child and

environment

15% - Hope, expectations

15% - Technique

30% - Nature of the connection (warmth, acceptance, empathy)

Asay & Lambert

Connecting for Change

Healing relationships

need not always

involve psychotherapy.

Many people recover

from trauma exposure

…in the context of

family, friendships, and

other relationships.

Briere & Scott

Parents, counselors,

teachers, coaches,

direct-care workers,

case managers, and

others are all in a

position to help a

child heal.

Greenwald

‘The more

healthy

relationships a

child has, the

more likely he

will be to recover

from trauma and

thrive...

Relationships are

the agents of

change.’

Perry & Szalavitz.

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again Maya Angelou