High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2023
Streaming Media
Files
Course Code
PSY
Course Number
3213
Faculty/Instructor
Dr. Widaad Zaman
Faculty/Instructor Email
widaad.zaman@ucf.edu
Abstract, Summary, or Creative Statement
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are instances of childhood trauma such as caregiver negligence, domestic abuse, and other dysfunctional relationships that a child may encounter inside or outside of their family. Significant evidence suggests ACEs are a predictor of youth complications, such as attentional, learning, emotional, and behavioral deficits. Anxiety and depressive disorders are two of the most costly childhood health conditions. The more instances of ACE indicated, the “higher [the] odds of anxiety or depression,” with an increased likelihood of internalized comorbidities or engagement with self-sabotaging behaviors (Elmore et al., 2020). This study addresses potential precursors to adulthood anxiety using the ACE scale while cross-referencing current anxiety states using the Hamilton-Anxiety Scale (HAM-A). Our study found that all cases of ACEs produced general anxiety symptomology (irritability and worrisome anticipation), anhedonic qualities (depression onset), concentration/memory deficits, sleep complications, uncontrollable twitching/uptightness, and social anxiety in adulthood across 85 university students. These results coincide with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD), but could also implicate the causation of other anxiety conditions, like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), or specialized phobia.
Keywords
ACE, adulthood anxiety, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, SAD, GAD, anxiety disorders, Adverse childhood outcomes
Recommended Citation
Martin, Emma N., "Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) as a Predictor of Adulthood Anxiety States" (2023). High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2023. 81.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hip-2023fall/81