Keywords

ACE child maltreatment adverse childhood experiences discipline

Abstract

Referrals to Child Protective Services in the United States rise each year at a rate that is disproportionate to population growth (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022). The content of such reports includes instances of abuse, neglect, and/or suspicion of other types of violence against children. As such, it is clear that children are increasingly exposed to adverse experiences that impact their development. Understanding factors that may contribute to children’s exposure to adverse experiences may assist in breaking the cycle of intergenerational transmission. Thus, this study examined the relationships among parents’ adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), emotion dysregulation, and child maltreatment potential in the context of race/ethnicity and perceptions of discipline. A total of 302 mothers and fathers with children 0- to 5-years of age completed self-report measures on their adverse childhood experiences, emotion dysregulation, perceptions of discipline, and child maltreatment potential. For mothers, a moderated mediation analysis found a significant relationship between ACEs and child maltreatment potential, with emotion dysregulation serving as a partial mediator and penalty (i.e., one perception of discipline) as a moderator. Separate mediation analysis found emotion dysregulation to be a significant mediator between ACEs and emotion dysregulation in the fathers’ sample. Additional analysis found penalty to be a significant moderator between ACEs and emotion dysregulation for the mothers’ sample. Finally, the impact of race/ethnicity on positive discipline was found to be marginally significant. Overall, this study demonstrated the role of emotion dysregulation on the relationship between ACEs and child maltreatment potential. Further, it highlighted how parents’ perceptions of discipline, particularly penalty, may weaken the link between their ACEs and iii child maltreatment potential. Ultimately, this study found support for key factors that may aid in the reduction of intergenerational transmission of trauma. Notably, interventions focused on the development and utilization of parents’ emotion regulation strategies may decrease their propensity to engage in child maltreatment, particularly when they have a history of ACEs. Further, parent training programs focused on appropriate implementation of penalty techniques may weaken the association between ACEs and emotion dysregulation, thereby reducing the link to child maltreatment potential. Although the influence of race/ethnicity on perceptions of discipline was marginal, it is important to consider in future investigations to better understand its nuanced impact.

Completion Date

2025

Semester

Summer

Committee Chair

Renk, Kimberly

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Format

PDF

Identifier

DP0029624

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Campus Location

UCF Sanford/Lake Mary

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