Citation

Dudovitz R, Chung PJ. Pediatrics 2019; 144(2): ePub.

Affiliation

RAND Health, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Academy of Pediatrics)

DOI

10.1542/peds.2019-0893

PMID

31285396

Abstract

In the article “Adverse Childhood Experiences and Protective Factors with School Engagement,” Robles et al1 identify several key family and neighborhood protective factors that might help mitigate the effect of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on school outcomes. Academic performance is 1 of the strongest and most consistent predictors of health, both during childhood2 and throughout the life course.3 There is also increasing evidence that ACEs are a key pathway through which disparities in academic and health outcomes may be transmitted across generations.4–6 Hence, identifying strategies that can support school function, particularly among those affected by ACEs, may be critical for reducing health disparities.

One particularly interesting finding noted by the authors was that the most powerful protective factor in their analysis was having a parent who can talk to the child about things that matter and share ideas. Many of the traditional ACEs (such as experiencing abuse or neglect and being separated from …

Address correspondence to Rebecca Dudovitz, MD, MSHS, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave, 12-358 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095. E-mail: rdudovitz@mednet.ucla.edu

Language: en