Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Direct Support Professionals

Abstract

Direct support professionals (DSPs) provide integral support to many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Yet, individuals' access to qualified DSPs is often compromised as organizations struggle to hire and retain DSPs. Despite a vast body of research exploring factors associated with turnover, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among DSPs remain absent from the literature. ACEs encompass abuse and familial dysfunction prior to the age of 18 and, in the general population, have been linked to compromised well-being and work-related challenges in adult life. An online survey was conducted to explore the prevalence of ACE categories and ACE scores (i.e., the sum of each ACE category experienced by a person) among DSPs ( n = 386) working in licensed settings. Seventy-five percent of DSPs experienced at least one ACE and 30% had an ACE score of four or more. DSPs who identified as female and those who had been in their position less than one year had significantly higher ACE scores than males and others who had been in their position longer, respectively. In comparison with other studies, the four most common ACE categories among DSPs (i.e., divorce, emotional abuse, mental illness, and substance abuse) were the same, however, DSPs in the present study had a higher average ACE score and nearly twice the percentage of persons having an ACE score of four or more. The potential implications of ACEs among DSPs, at the intersection of their work with individuals with IDD, are discussed.

Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Licensed Social Workers

“…Steen (2017) found that among 444 social workers with a history of substance problems, exposure to physical neglect predicted lower levels of career success. Keesler (2018) administered the ACE scale to 386 direct support professionals who worked with individuals experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities. The study found that ACE scores among these professionals were higher than those reported in the general population.…”

COVID-19: Outcomes for trauma-impacted nurses and nursing students

“…Exposure to child abuse, family violence, sexual trauma, or alcoholism as a child is linked to unfavorable physical and social outcomes as an adult. ACEs have dose-related effects on adult well-being, indicating more events, the greater the effect (Keesler, 2018). The more adverse events, the higher the risk to adult well-being.…”

A personal history of trauma and experience of secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, and burnout in mental health workers: A systematic literature review.

“…Practically, personal trauma history is worthy of study given its disproportionately high occurrence among mental health workers, as compared with the general population (Keesler, 2018; Lee et al, 2017; Thomas, 2016). For example, Follette et al (1994) found that almost 30% of mental health professionals reported some form of childhood trauma, whereas only 20% of those in law enforcement reported the same, with groups selected due to their exposure to traumatic client material.…”