1 Psychology and human development1.12 Stages of human development
1.12.3 Adverse childhood experiences and loss
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Written by Resident Doctor Committee · Published
New in the 2027 syllabus
The College added this topic for exams from January 2027.
What counts as adversity
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) include abuse, neglect and disruption to the safety or stability of the home. They can affect later health and development.
An ACE count records which categories of adversity occurred. It does not record how severe each one was, when it happened, how long it lasted or what it meant to the child. The same total can hide very different experiences.
Higher ACE counts are linked with more later mental and physical ill health. This describes risk across a population. It does not predict that a particular child will become ill.
Bereavement, separation and maltreatment
Experience | What shapes its impact |
|---|---|
Bereavement | Who was lost, how they died, the child's stage of understanding and the care that remains |
Parental divorce | Conflict, safety, money, contact with caregivers and repeated changes |
Maltreatment | Its type, how long it lasts, the relationship to the perpetrator and access to protection |
Bereaved children may move between grief and ordinary activity. Their understanding of the loss changes as they develop.
Divorce has no single fixed outcome. Persistent conflict, disrupted care and financial strain help explain why children adjust differently.
Later mental health reflects both the original adversity and what follows through relationships, education, coping and social conditions.
Protection and assessment
Protective factors. Stable, supportive relationships and a safe environment can lower risk and help recovery, even after adversity has already happened.
Assessment. Ask about current safety, functioning, symptoms and support. Do not use an ACE total as a diagnosis or as a rule for deciding treatment.
Sources of information. Retrospective reports (adults recalling their childhood) and prospective records (gathered at the time) capture different information. Do not assume either one gives an error-free account of every childhood experience.