What is correlated with a higher ACE score?

A higher Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) score is associated with various negative outcomes in adulthood, particularly in health and behavior. One significant correlation of a higher ACE score is increased smoking rates. Individuals with a higher ACE score often experience trauma and stress during childhood, which can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms in adulthood, including a tendency to smoke.

Stress and trauma can alter an individual's physiology and mental health, impacting their substance use behavior. Research has shown that those with higher ACE scores are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, including tobacco use, as a way to manage or escape the psychological impacts of their experiences.

In contrast, options that suggest stronger employment prospects, lower healthcare access, or better social relationships do not align well with the evidence surrounding ACE scores. Generally, individuals with higher ACE scores face challenges that can negatively impact their employment, limit their access to healthcare, and complicate their ability to build healthy social relationships. Thus, increased smoking rates become a prominent outcome associated with higher ACE scores.