Childhood trauma can lead to poor health later in life

"More than half of Minnesota adults included in a 2011 survey had an adverse childhood experience that could be linked to poor health outcomes later in life, the Minnesota Department of Health announced Monday," wrote MPR News reporter Elizabeth Dunbar this week.

Adverse childhood experiences include abuse, having a mentally ill parent, domestic violence against a parent, a household member in prison, divorced parents or a household member with a drug or alcohol problem.

Fifty-five percent of the 13,520 Minnesotans surveyed reported having at least one adverse childhood experience. Of that group, 28 percent reported verbal abuse, 24 percent reported a drinking problem in the household, 17 percent reported mental illness in the household and 16 percent reported physical abuse. And among people reporting adverse childhood experiences, more than half had experienced more than two.

It's the first time the questions about childhood were included for Minnesota respondents as part of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Seventeen other states ask the questions.

The survey also asked people about their health and found a link between adverse childhood experiences and health outcomes in adulthood. Minnesotans with more such experiences were more likely to have asthma, be obese, rate their health as fair or poor, have a depression or anxiety diagnosis or report chronic smoking and drinking.

Minnesota Department of Health research scientist Pete Rode and Dave Ellis, a consultant working with families to prevent adverse childhood experiences, join The Daily Circuit Friday, Feb. 1 to discuss the survey findings.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES

Read more about the survey findings from the MDH

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study from the CDC

Research suggests link between family violence, ongoing illness (MPR News)

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