Posttraumatic Growth Following Adverse Childhood Experiences: “My Creative Arts Teacher Got Me Through It”

Michelle Pliske; Allison Werner-Lin; Sarah Stauffer

doi:doi:10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11

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Posttraumatic Growth Following Adverse Childhood Experiences: “My Creative Arts Teacher Got Me Through It”

Michelle Pliske, Allison Werner-Lin, Sarah Stauffer

Published in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 4)

Received: 13 June 2022 Accepted: 29 June 2022 Published: 12 July 2022

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Abstract

Background: Childhood trauma results in long-term health and economic complications. The original Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) inventory provided researchers and health experts a lens to explore the implications of early experiences of trauma on human development. The ACE inventory has been evaluated over the last two decades to include societal and community factors, however gaps in assessment warrant a further need for revision. The ACE-EX was built to combine current research and social determinants of health with data obtained directly from people who experienced trauma but were unable to be accounted for in the original or recent modified measures. This study demonstrates how relationships serve as a fundamental protective factor for traumatized children to experience post-traumatic growth. Objective: The authors examined creative art expression, in context with nurturing relationships, as a protective factor against long term negative outcomes associated with ACEs. Method: The researchers used grounded theory methodology and recruited 10 adult participants who reported having four or more experiences on an expanded trauma inventory (ACE-EX) and did not report significant negative health conditions. Participants completed two qualitative retrospective interviews regarding important relationships and the arts. Data analysis used the constant comparative method to complete both iterative and theoretical coding. Findings: Data supported the importance of nurturing relationships, combined with expressive arts, as protective factors against ACEs. Relationships and the arts provided a context for integrating experiences in relation to early trauma. Conclusion: The implications of chronic traumatic stress necessitate the need for building protective factors into the fabric of societal systems. Identifying variables such as creative expression within the context of supportive relationships with caring adults, and inclusive communities, suggest comprehensive prevention programs are possible and social policy reform is needed to aide in mitigating the long-term effects of childhood trauma.

Published in	Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11
Page(s)	105-115
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Psychological Trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Posttraumatic Growth, Mentor Relationships, Resiliency, Protective Factors, Play Therapy, Expressive Arts

References

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APA Style

Michelle Pliske, Allison Werner-Lin, Sarah Stauffer. (2022). Posttraumatic Growth Following Adverse Childhood Experiences: “My Creative Arts Teacher Got Me Through It”. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 11(4), 105-115. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11

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ACS Style

Michelle Pliske; Allison Werner-Lin; Sarah Stauffer. Posttraumatic Growth Following Adverse Childhood Experiences: “My Creative Arts Teacher Got Me Through It”. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2022, 11(4), 105-115. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11

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Michelle Pliske, Allison Werner-Lin, Sarah Stauffer. Posttraumatic Growth Following Adverse Childhood Experiences: “My Creative Arts Teacher Got Me Through It”. Psychol Behav Sci. 2022;11(4):105-115. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11

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@article{10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11,
  author = {Michelle Pliske and Allison Werner-Lin and Sarah Stauffer},
  title = {Posttraumatic Growth Following Adverse Childhood Experiences: “My Creative Arts Teacher Got Me Through It”},
  journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
  volume = {11},
  number = {4},
  pages = {105-115},
  doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20221104.11},
  abstract = {Background: Childhood trauma results in long-term health and economic complications. The original Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) inventory provided researchers and health experts a lens to explore the implications of early experiences of trauma on human development. The ACE inventory has been evaluated over the last two decades to include societal and community factors, however gaps in assessment warrant a further need for revision. The ACE-EX was built to combine current research and social determinants of health with data obtained directly from people who experienced trauma but were unable to be accounted for in the original or recent modified measures. This study demonstrates how relationships serve as a fundamental protective factor for traumatized children to experience post-traumatic growth. Objective: The authors examined creative art expression, in context with nurturing relationships, as a protective factor against long term negative outcomes associated with ACEs. Method: The researchers used grounded theory methodology and recruited 10 adult participants who reported having four or more experiences on an expanded trauma inventory (ACE-EX) and did not report significant negative health conditions. Participants completed two qualitative retrospective interviews regarding important relationships and the arts. Data analysis used the constant comparative method to complete both iterative and theoretical coding. Findings: Data supported the importance of nurturing relationships, combined with expressive arts, as protective factors against ACEs. Relationships and the arts provided a context for integrating experiences in relation to early trauma. Conclusion: The implications of chronic traumatic stress necessitate the need for building protective factors into the fabric of societal systems. Identifying variables such as creative expression within the context of supportive relationships with caring adults, and inclusive communities, suggest comprehensive prevention programs are possible and social policy reform is needed to aide in mitigating the long-term effects of childhood trauma.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Posttraumatic Growth Following Adverse Childhood Experiences: “My Creative Arts Teacher Got Me Through It”
AU  - Michelle Pliske
AU  - Allison Werner-Lin
AU  - Sarah Stauffer
Y1  - 2022/07/12
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11
T2  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JF  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JO  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
SP  - 105
EP  - 115
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7845
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11
AB  - Background: Childhood trauma results in long-term health and economic complications. The original Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) inventory provided researchers and health experts a lens to explore the implications of early experiences of trauma on human development. The ACE inventory has been evaluated over the last two decades to include societal and community factors, however gaps in assessment warrant a further need for revision. The ACE-EX was built to combine current research and social determinants of health with data obtained directly from people who experienced trauma but were unable to be accounted for in the original or recent modified measures. This study demonstrates how relationships serve as a fundamental protective factor for traumatized children to experience post-traumatic growth. Objective: The authors examined creative art expression, in context with nurturing relationships, as a protective factor against long term negative outcomes associated with ACEs. Method: The researchers used grounded theory methodology and recruited 10 adult participants who reported having four or more experiences on an expanded trauma inventory (ACE-EX) and did not report significant negative health conditions. Participants completed two qualitative retrospective interviews regarding important relationships and the arts. Data analysis used the constant comparative method to complete both iterative and theoretical coding. Findings: Data supported the importance of nurturing relationships, combined with expressive arts, as protective factors against ACEs. Relationships and the arts provided a context for integrating experiences in relation to early trauma. Conclusion: The implications of chronic traumatic stress necessitate the need for building protective factors into the fabric of societal systems. Identifying variables such as creative expression within the context of supportive relationships with caring adults, and inclusive communities, suggest comprehensive prevention programs are possible and social policy reform is needed to aide in mitigating the long-term effects of childhood trauma.
VL  - 11
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Author Information

Michelle Pliske

School of Social Sciences, Pacific University, Forest Grove, the United States
Allison Werner-Lin

School of Social Policy and Practice, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, the United States
Sarah Stauffer

Association ESPAS (Espace de Soutien et Prévention – Abus Sexuels), Lausanne, Switzerland

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APA Style

Michelle Pliske, Allison Werner-Lin, Sarah Stauffer. (2022). Posttraumatic Growth Following Adverse Childhood Experiences: “My Creative Arts Teacher Got Me Through It”. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 11(4), 105-115. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11

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ACS Style

Michelle Pliske; Allison Werner-Lin; Sarah Stauffer. Posttraumatic Growth Following Adverse Childhood Experiences: “My Creative Arts Teacher Got Me Through It”. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2022, 11(4), 105-115. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11

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AMA Style

Michelle Pliske, Allison Werner-Lin, Sarah Stauffer. Posttraumatic Growth Following Adverse Childhood Experiences: “My Creative Arts Teacher Got Me Through It”. Psychol Behav Sci. 2022;11(4):105-115. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11

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@article{10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11,
  author = {Michelle Pliske and Allison Werner-Lin and Sarah Stauffer},
  title = {Posttraumatic Growth Following Adverse Childhood Experiences: “My Creative Arts Teacher Got Me Through It”},
  journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
  volume = {11},
  number = {4},
  pages = {105-115},
  doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20221104.11},
  abstract = {Background: Childhood trauma results in long-term health and economic complications. The original Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) inventory provided researchers and health experts a lens to explore the implications of early experiences of trauma on human development. The ACE inventory has been evaluated over the last two decades to include societal and community factors, however gaps in assessment warrant a further need for revision. The ACE-EX was built to combine current research and social determinants of health with data obtained directly from people who experienced trauma but were unable to be accounted for in the original or recent modified measures. This study demonstrates how relationships serve as a fundamental protective factor for traumatized children to experience post-traumatic growth. Objective: The authors examined creative art expression, in context with nurturing relationships, as a protective factor against long term negative outcomes associated with ACEs. Method: The researchers used grounded theory methodology and recruited 10 adult participants who reported having four or more experiences on an expanded trauma inventory (ACE-EX) and did not report significant negative health conditions. Participants completed two qualitative retrospective interviews regarding important relationships and the arts. Data analysis used the constant comparative method to complete both iterative and theoretical coding. Findings: Data supported the importance of nurturing relationships, combined with expressive arts, as protective factors against ACEs. Relationships and the arts provided a context for integrating experiences in relation to early trauma. Conclusion: The implications of chronic traumatic stress necessitate the need for building protective factors into the fabric of societal systems. Identifying variables such as creative expression within the context of supportive relationships with caring adults, and inclusive communities, suggest comprehensive prevention programs are possible and social policy reform is needed to aide in mitigating the long-term effects of childhood trauma.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Posttraumatic Growth Following Adverse Childhood Experiences: “My Creative Arts Teacher Got Me Through It”
AU  - Michelle Pliske
AU  - Allison Werner-Lin
AU  - Sarah Stauffer
Y1  - 2022/07/12
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11
T2  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JF  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JO  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
SP  - 105
EP  - 115
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7845
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20221104.11
AB  - Background: Childhood trauma results in long-term health and economic complications. The original Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) inventory provided researchers and health experts a lens to explore the implications of early experiences of trauma on human development. The ACE inventory has been evaluated over the last two decades to include societal and community factors, however gaps in assessment warrant a further need for revision. The ACE-EX was built to combine current research and social determinants of health with data obtained directly from people who experienced trauma but were unable to be accounted for in the original or recent modified measures. This study demonstrates how relationships serve as a fundamental protective factor for traumatized children to experience post-traumatic growth. Objective: The authors examined creative art expression, in context with nurturing relationships, as a protective factor against long term negative outcomes associated with ACEs. Method: The researchers used grounded theory methodology and recruited 10 adult participants who reported having four or more experiences on an expanded trauma inventory (ACE-EX) and did not report significant negative health conditions. Participants completed two qualitative retrospective interviews regarding important relationships and the arts. Data analysis used the constant comparative method to complete both iterative and theoretical coding. Findings: Data supported the importance of nurturing relationships, combined with expressive arts, as protective factors against ACEs. Relationships and the arts provided a context for integrating experiences in relation to early trauma. Conclusion: The implications of chronic traumatic stress necessitate the need for building protective factors into the fabric of societal systems. Identifying variables such as creative expression within the context of supportive relationships with caring adults, and inclusive communities, suggest comprehensive prevention programs are possible and social policy reform is needed to aide in mitigating the long-term effects of childhood trauma.
VL  - 11
IS  - 4
ER  -

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