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Journal article
Selecting evidence to frame the consequences of adverse childhood experiences: testing effects on public support for policy action, multi-sector responsibility, and stigma
Preventive medicine, v 154, 106912
Jan 2022
PMID: 34921834
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
While clinical and public health researchers have produced a high volume of research evidence about the consequences of ACEs, there is limited research on public understanding of ACEs or how to most effectively communicate about this body of science. The objective of this study was to determine which messages describing evidence about the consequences of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect public perceptions. We conducted an online experiment with a nationally-representative sample of U.S. adults in July–August 2020. Participants were randomized to control groups receiving messages describing ACE prevalence or resilience, or treatment groups receiving messages describing consequences of ACEs on mental health and substance use, economics, racial equity, or biology. We compared respondents' perceptions of prevention policies and likelihood of policy engagement, attributions of multi-sector responsibility, and blame and stigma across experimental groups. Messages about economic consequences increased respondents' support for policy and attributions of multi-sector responsibility relative to control groups, while also increasing parental blame. The message describing racial equity lowered respondents' perceptions of importance of state policy action and attributions of responsibility to health care. None of the messages affected stigmatizing attitudes. Describing the economic consequences of ACEs on public systems boosts public support for policy action. More research is needed on how the public responds to messaging connecting systemic racism with childhood adversity and health.
•A survey-based experiment examined the effects of communicating ACE evidence on policy-related outcomes and stigma.•Evidence about economic consequences of ACEs increased respondents' policy support, but also increased parental blame.•Evidence about racial inequity and ACEs reduced perceptions of the importance of policy.•Messages about biological and mental health consequences of ACEs did not shift opinion.
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Details
- Title
- Selecting evidence to frame the consequences of adverse childhood experiences: testing effects on public support for policy action, multi-sector responsibility, and stigma
- Creators
- Sarah E. Gollust - University of MinnesotaKatherine L. Nelson - Drexel UniversityJonathan Purtle - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Preventive medicine, v 154, 106912
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Health Management and Policy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000734885100008
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85121388747
- Other Identifier
- 991019169211304721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health