At the AVA conference in San Diego, I asked RJ Gilespie why they chose the Got your Ace Score "Resilience" Questions. He said to the audience "Because it was free."
These are the questions:
RESILIENCE Questionnaire
Please circle the most accurate answer under each statement:
1. I believe that my mother loved me when I was little.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
2. I believe that my father loved me when I was little.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
3. When I was little, other people helped my mother and father take care of me and they seemed to love me.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
4. I’ve heard that when I was an infant someone in my family enjoyed playing with me, and I enjoyed it, too.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
5. When I was a child, there were relatives in my family who made me feel better if I was sad or worried.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
6. When I was a child, neighbors or my friends’ parents seemed to like me.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
7. When I was a child, teachers, coaches, youth leaders or ministers were there to help me.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
8. Someone in my family cared about how I was doing in school.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
9. My family, neighbors and friends talked often about making our lives better.
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10. We had rules in our house and were expected to keep them.
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11. When I felt really bad, I could almost always find someone I trusted to talk to.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
12. As a youth, people noticed that I was capable and could get things done.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
13. I was independent and a go-getter.
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14. I believed that life is what you make it.
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It makes a lot of sense to me that they are finding that as the ACE score goes up, then numbers of "Definitely Not True" on this questionnaire goes up. This is because if one had a caring mother, father, relatives and neighbors, school teachers etc.... one would be "protected" from ACEs just as a serious mother grizzly bear protects her cubs.
Maybe the Oregon Group should consider evaluating another "resilience" scale, Especially since they are screening mothers of 4 month old infants. At this age there is quite the risk for Post-Pardem Depression which is what my clinic screened for at 4 months. But anyway, for someone who has a new infant, maybe some depressed mood and then a high ACE score -- to have to think that nope my mom, dad, neighbors, teachers, other family members etc did not love me or protect me (that's hard) so I'm not resilient (well as I consider this, that makes sense), I just don't think this is what I would ever be going over with a new mother.... I believe asking the ACE questionnaire and educating about the effects of toxic stress exposure in a non-judgemental manner is a better approach. It makes me really concerned to ask these questions of a new mother. A mother may not respond negatively immediately but these are factors that can touch at the very core of one's serious trauma exposure, not having a loving, protective parent in your life when you were a child, and reflecting on the fact while now you are a new mother. This is very concerning to me.
I would rather use something that can help parents in the here and now learn about actions they can do to be empowered to engage in self care which is very helpful for anyone caring for a new infant (these questions are dis-empowering - there is no way an adult can go back and change the past that they never had control of anyway) .
Thanks Tina