| Description |
The level of stress load can be determined by various methods. One of them is the ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) test. In individuals exposed during childhood and adolescence to a higher stress load, problems of a circulatory, metabolic, psychological and immune nature occur more often. These persons have a higher tendency to engage in risky behavior, achieve a lower level of education and lower job positions. The research investigation was focused on clients with behavioral and emotional disorders placed in institutional education. His main goal was to find out what degree of stressogenicity these persons show and how toxic stress affects their manifestations. The sub-objectives of the study related to the most common reasons for including clients with increased stressogenicity in institutional education and the differences between the behavior of clients who experienced strong toxic stress and the group without this anamnesis. The main research question was focused on the connection between toxic stress and behavioral and emotional disorders in clients in institutional care. Secondary research questions were oriented to the connection of addictive and delinquent behavior with an increased level of stressogenicity and the most common reasons for placing people with increased stressogenicity in institutional education. The research study used a mixed design, that is, a qualitative and quantitative strategy. In the quantitative part, the ACE test was applied in the Czech version translated from the English original. It contained a set of 10 questions focused on different forms of risky behavior. During the evaluation, the point gain ranged from 0 to 10 points, clients with 3 or more points were considered risky. The evaluation of the differences between the group of people with low and high stress load was carried out using the EpiInfo software package, the chi-square goodness-of-fit test and Fisher's exact test were applied. As part of the qualitative part, client case studies were compiled and analyzed. The research sample included 22 clients placed in institutional education – 7 girls and 15 boys aged 14–18. His recruitment was carried out in the South Moravian region. The obtained data were pseudonymized, after the end of the collection they were anonymized. The rules of research and publication ethics were observed when handling confidential data. The facilities, clients and their legal representatives were informed about the research project through the text of the informed consent. The results showed that in the group of 22 participants, the average level of toxic stress was 3.5 points, which can already be considered as a risk score, when there is a risk of physical, psychological and social problems and a connection with the emergence or deepening of behavioral and emotional disorders. In the monitored group, 14 clients achieved an ACE score of 3 or higher, which corresponds to a higher to high level of stress, while 8 clients had an ACE score of less than 3, which represents a normal to low level of stress. Among the participants with an increased level of stress, mainly neglect of care, truancy and disrespect for authority led to placement in institutional care. Among individuals with a low level of stress, truancy, disrespect for authority and running away were the most common. The group of adolescents with increased stress was significantly more likely to engage in addictive behavior compared to the group without this burden. No significant difference was found in the case of delinquent behavior. To improve the current situation, it is necessary to strengthen the prevention of risky behavioral patterns, expand the network of low-threshold facilities for children and youth from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, and focus on excluded and problem communities.
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