>[!abstract] >Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) include childhood emotional, physical, or sexual abuse and household dysfunction during childhood. The categories are verbal abuse, physical abuse, contact sexual abuse, a battered mother/father, household substance abuse, household mental illness, incarcerated household members, and parental separation or divorce. The experiences chosen were based upon prior research that has shown to them to have significant negative health or social implications, and for which substantial efforts are being made in the public and private sector to reduce their frequency of occurrence. > >Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are correlated with physical and mental health problems in adolescence and adulthood, including cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, autoimmune diseases, substance abuse, and depression, however, some of these problems are not inevitable outcomes of ACEs. > >There are 10 types of ACEs: > > - Physical abuse: Any intentional act that causes physical harm through bodily contact. > - Sexual abuse: Any forceful, unwanted, or otherwise abusive sexual behavior. > - Psychological abuse: Any intentional act that causes psychological harm, such as gaslighting, bullying, or guilt-tripping. > - Physical neglect: Failure to help meet the basic biological needs of a child, such as food, water, and shelter. > - Psychological neglect: Failure to help meet the basic emotional needs of a child, such as attention and affection. > - Witnessing domestic abuse: Observing violence occurring between individuals in a domestic setting, such as between parents or other family members. > - Witnessing drug or alcohol abuse: Having a close family member who misused drugs or alcohol. > - Mental health problems: Having a close family member or otherwise important individual experience mental health problems. > - Imprisonment: Having a close family member or otherwise important individual serve time in prison. > - Parental separation or divorce: Parents or guardians separating or divorcing on account of a relationship breakdown. > > (Wikipedia, 2025). >[!note] Prevalence >ACEs are common. About 64% of adults in the United States reported they had experienced at least one type of ACE before age 18. Nearly one in six (17.3%) adults reported they had experienced four or more types of ACEs ([CDC, 2024](https://www.cdc.gov/aces/about/index.html)). >[!related] >- **North** (upstream): — >- **West** (similar): [[Childhood trauma]] >- **East** (different): [[Positive childhood experiences (PCEs)]] >- **South** (downstream): —