Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adult Mental Well-Being: Evidenced-Based Practice Research Paper

General Synopsis

The main aim of the study was to assess the effects of traumatic experiences during childhood on the overall psychological health of an individual in his or her adulthood. Some of these experiences include living in a dysfunctional home or being a victim of child abuse. In assessing the relationship, 3,885 individuals between the ages of 18 and 69 were evaluated. Information on an individual’s current state of psychological well-being, contentment in life, and exposure to hurting experiences during childhood was obtained from the study. About 46.4% of the participants indicated in the administered questionnaires of having gone through an ordeal resulting in emotional torture. Individuals who recorded a higher number of adverse childhood experiences had the lowest score in terms of contentment in life and psychological stability (Hughes et al., 2016). Childhood adversity was found to have a bearing on an individual’s mental health stability.

General Impressions of the Article

The article provided background information that formed the basis of the study. Reading the paper, I got an impression that it was not just a random study but also well researched paper with vital findings. In essence, it helps one to understand the link between adverse childhood experiences and the mental well-being of adults. In addition, it is a well-organized study with evidence-based information and reputable sources used to support the data presented. There is a clear description of how individuals ended up in the study with clearly outlined inclusion criteria, which served as parameters against which the participants were assessed. The gap in the research is the absence of a literature review. It would be necessary for one to know what other studies have done on the same topic, and how does the current study compare with the others.

Significance of Data Found in the Article

The information obtained from the study was substantial and can be extrapolated to the entire population. The research’s main objective was to determine the existing connection between childhood experiences and the emotional stability of individuals in adulthood. The prevalent score of impaired mental health from the results obtained in subjects who reported zero number of adverse childhood experiences stood at 9.5%. However, the prevalent score tripled to 30.7% in individuals who reported going through four or more traumas at a young age. Following the calculation of the adjusted odd rations to control for confounders, the relationship remained significant, showing the vitality of the data obtained from the study.

Ways in which the article might Influence my Professional Practice

The article will influence my decision making when dealing with adults with mental health problems. I will not only focus on the current symptoms but also will dig more in-depth evidence of adverse childhood experiences and start by treating the trauma. The article will also make me more vigilant when dealing with children to quickly identify those undergoing traumatic events and help them before it is too late. Finally, the article will help me deal more compassionately with those experiencing mental health problems understanding that most of them were victims of circumstances.

Nursing Diagnosis for the Psychiatric Diagnosis

Risk for Self-Directed or Other-Directed Violence

In this nursing diagnosis, an individual is at risk of causing harm against self or directing to others. Pain inflicted from harm may be due to physical, sexual, or emotional causes.

Risk Factors/Related to

1. A bad relationship between a parent and a child
2. An individual living in a dysfunctional family
3. A child going through child abuse or neglect.

Defining Characteristics (Evidenced By)

1. Individual causing physical harm to self and feeling useless
2. Individual not being able to feel close to others and thus causing them harm

Low Self-Esteem

Low self-esteem involves viewing oneself negatively.

Risk Factors/Related to

1. A bad relationship between a parent and a child
2. Lack of approval for an individual
3. An individual living in a dysfunctional family system
4. A person having gone through child abuse or neglect

Defining Characteristics (Evidenced By)

1. An individual not being able to make one’s mind because of the thought that he or she is incapable
2. An individual seeing self as being unable to deal well with problems
3. An individual is afraid of trying out new things
4. An individual continually blames others for things not turning out as had been expected

Ineffective Coping

Ineffective coping is the inability of an individual to correctly appraise a situation and thus unable to make the right choice in dealing with changes in life.

Risk Factors/Related to

1. Living in a dysfunctional family system
2. Lack of support from friends and family
3. History of adverse childhood experiences

Defining Characteristics (Evidenced By)

1. Being constantly suspicious of other people and always blaming them for things not going according to plan
2. Constant pessimism
3. Inability to make key decisions on major issues of life

Article Recommendation

I would highly recommend this article to someone else because it is a study conducted on what affects the world today. Cases of mental health continue to rise, and at times one may not have a clear explanation for the same. In that case, understanding that traumatic childhood experiences will not stop at childhood but may affect an individual even in adulthood is critical for the correct management of mental illnesses. The data obtained from the article is also significant and can be extrapolated to the population, making the study useful. Therefore, I would highly recommend the article.

Reference

Hughes, K., Lowey, H., Quigg, Z., & Bellis, M. A. (2016). Relationships between adverse childhood experiences and adult mental well-being: Results from an English national household survey. BMC Public Health, 16(222), 1-11. Web.