Dear all,
I am working on my dissertation and have been immersed in the ACE literature. I came to it after I had a similar experience that Dr. Felitti relayed: I interviewed 47 people as part of a type 2 diabetes study and I began to hear over and over stories about childhood trauma. I never set out to ask these questions. In fact, I was encouraged to stay away from anything having to do with abuse in the wake of Penn State's failure to act against the assistant coach for decades. But it kept coming up -- I am a good listener and I felt intuitively that in order to understand the subjective experience of diabetes, I needed to know soemthing about their past.
And then I came across the ACE research.
I am writing to ask two questions:
1. Does anyone know of any empirical research that has been done to show the power of self-awareness to change/improve health outcomes or well-being. I have looked extensively and have not been able to find anything in the peer-review research. Lots of evidence reported by clinicians and anecdotes I read over and over again. If there is not, then I think that should be my next study!
2. I have been unable to find research or much intervention for older adults with ACEs. I think there is a enormous opportunity to help grandparents understand themselves, their adult children, and their grandchildren.
I appreciate this forum! Thank you.
Sincerely,
Erin Roth