ORCID

0009-0005-2899-0776

Keywords

ACEs, protective experiences, protective parenting, intergenerational transmission of trauma

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are childhood exposures to abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. ACEs have been linked to a cumulative negative impact on later adult physical and psychological well-being. Parents who carry ACEs often have difficulties in parenting, which have, in turn, been linked to young children’s internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Nonetheless, some parents who carry ACEs develop positive parenting strategies. Very little is known about how such outcomes occur. A growing area of research concerns protective and compensatory experiences (PACEs) that buffer against the negative consequences of ACEs. PACEs may improve deficits in cognitive, emotional, and neurobiological systems brought about by early exposure to stress and trauma. The relationship between PACEs and parenting strategies, including how they relate to young children’s internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, has yet to be examined. Correlational, moderation, and moderated mediated analyses were conducted for 204 parents. Results suggested that PACEs moderate the relationship between parents' ACEs and young children’s internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Parents’ ACEs were related to young children’s behavior problems through emotional availability. Parents’ ACEs also were related to their young children’s behavior problems through reflective functioning. There was a suggested moderating effect of PACEs on the relationship between ACEs and protective parenting behaviors. The implication of these findings are discussed.


Completion Date

2025

Semester

Summer

Committee Chair

Renk, Kimberly

Degree

Master of Arts (M.A.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Format

PDF

Identifier

DP0029527

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

Subjects

Parenting--Research; Parent and child--Research; Child mental health--Research; Behavior disorders in children--Research; Child psychopathology--Risk factors

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