Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and Their Relationship to Adult Stress Among Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Abstract

Men who were sexually abused during childhood represent a highly stigmatized, marginalized, and under-researched population at risk for a variety of problems across the lifespan. The purpose of the current study was to (a) describe characteristics of child sexual abuse (CSA) and adverse child experiences (ACE), and (b) examine the relationships among CSA characteristics, ACE, and stressors in adulthood. Using a cross-sectional design, the researcher collected data on 487 adult men through an anonymous, online survey. Bivariate analyses revealed that five CSA characteristics--age at first abuse (r = -.164), number of abusers (r = .231), use of physical force, penetration, and physical injury--were related to the number of ACE. Three CSA characteristics (use of physical force, penetration, and physical injury) and the number of ACE (r = .162) were positively related to the number of stressors in adulthood. Preliminary recommendations for prevention, intervention, and future research are provided.

Mental health indicators fifty years later: A population-based study of men with histories of child sexual abuse

“…Additional stressors can magnify the psychological injury from CSA to the child and undermine potential recovery resources such as social support, both mechanisms that can contribute to psychological problems in adulthood. Childhood adversities have also been related to more severe forms of CSA among male survivors (Easton, 2012), another possible route to psychopathology. Our results supported a direct relationship between childhood adversities and three mental health outcomes among the entire sample of men, which is consistent with the growing literature on ACE (Chapman et al, 2004; Felitti et al, 1998; Kalmakis & Chandler, 2014).…”

“…A prominent class of environmental stressors, adverse childhood experiences (ACE; e.g., physical abuse or neglect, parental substance use), is relatively common in the general population (Chartier, Walker, & Naimark, 2010; Dong et al, 2004) and frequently co-occurs with CSA (Dong, Anda, Dube, Giles, & Felitti, 2003; Dong et al, 2004; Easton, 2012). In terms of the long-term effects of ACE, Felitti et al's (1998) pioneering research documented links between ACE and health risks for outcomes such as alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, and suicide attempts.…”

Risk and protective factors for depressive symptoms among American Indian older adults: Adverse childhood experiences and social support

“…For example, culture and ACE are inextricably interwoven together; the reporting accuracy of ACE may vary due to individuals' background (e.g., age, gender, race) or culture (Easton, 2012). Also, some depression scales, such as the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, have been found to be conceptually valid in an AI population in the great region (Chapleski, Lamphere, Kaczynski, Lichtenberg, & Dwyer, 1997).…”

Characteristics of child physical and sexual abuse as predictors of psychopathology

“…A large body of research suggests that greater severity of childhood abuse, either physical or sexual, predicts poorer psychological health and suicidality in adolescence and adulthood (Bagley, Wood, & Young, 1994; Boudewyn & Liem, 1995; Easton, 2012; McLean, Morris, Conklin, Jayawickreme, & Foa, 2014; Naar-King et al, 2002; Trickett, Reiffman, Horowitz, & Putnam, 1997; Wind & Silvern, 1992). These findings are consistent with Carlson and colleagues’ (1997) claim that negatively perceived events are more likely to cause trauma.…”