The Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative released a new brief highlighting findings from recently published research examining the connection between childhood experiences and health and well-being among Chicago Public Schools (CPS) high school students.

The new research summarized in “Childhood Experiences Influence Student Outcomes” assessed the prevalence of certain adverse and positive experiences among CPS high school students and their relationship to indicators of health and well-being. Researchers with the Collaborative found that students reporting access to both a relationship with a trusted adult at school and participation in a team sport during the previous 12 months were significantly less likely to report mental health issues and may be less likely to report home insecurity, substance use, and physical health problems. The benefits of these two protective factors held true among students who also reported one or both of the two ACEs included in the study, 1) experiencing violence inflicted by an adult and 2) witnessing domestic violence.

With appreciation to the research team, Jacqueline Korpics, MD, MPH; Lara Altman MPH, MSW; Joseph Feinglass, PhD; and Audrey Stillerman, MD, this work adds to a growing body of research indicating that while childhood adversity increases risk for health and social problems, positive relationships and experiences within schools and communities can prevent and mitigate the effects of adversity and support thriving for adolescents.

Read the brief for more insights from the research.