Childhood stress: The impact of adverse childhood experiences on educational attainment among food insecure families

Home and family environments are powerful determinants of emotional, behavioral, cognitive, social, and physiologic functioning later in life.  Studies using the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Survey found significant association between childhood adversity—including psychological, physical, or sexual abuse; violence against mother; or living with household members who were substance abusers, mentally ill or suicidal, or ever imprisoned—and adult health problems.  Food insecurity and ACEs have been independently shown to negatively affect childhood academic performance and subsequent earning potential as an adult.  Our “Childhood Stress” study builds on this evidence to investigate the relationship between ACEs and educational attainment among food insecure mothers.  Thirty-three mothers of children under age four who reported low or very low food security at the household level completed a quantitative survey—including food security status, ACEs, education level, income, employment characteristics, and public assistance program participation—and participated in a semi-structured interview in which they described their experiences with ACEs, education, and food insecurity.  Twenty-two of the mothers interviewed reported four or more ACEs.  Among the mothers interviewed, 1 was a college graduate; 11 had completed technical school or some college; 12 completed high school or equivalency; and 8 did not graduate high school.  We performed a grounded theory analysis of the interviews, in which the mothers provided testimonies of the detrimental effects of ACEs on educational attainment and subsequent capacity to financially provide for their children.  Results suggest the need for trauma-informed administration of public assistance, and education/training programs.