Keywords
childhood trauma; deviant behavior; life course theory; social connectedness; socioeconomic status; adverse childhood experiences
Abstract
Understanding the factors that contribute to deviant behavior across the life span remains an important goal in psychology and criminology. Guided by life course theory, the present study examined whether childhood trauma, social connectedness, perceived childhood socioeconomic status, and key life transitions are associated with deviant behavior in adulthood. The purpose of this research was to better understand how early life experiences and social relationships may shape behavioral outcomes later in life. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with adult participants in the United States, aged 18 to 55. Participants completed measures assessing adverse childhood experiences, perceived childhood socioeconomic status, social connectedness, and self-reported deviant behavior. Nonparametric analyses and multiple regression were used to examine relationships among these variables. Results indicated that higher levels of childhood trauma were significantly associated with higher levels of deviant behavior, while stronger social connectedness was associated with lower levels of deviant behavior. Perceived childhood socioeconomic status showed a weaker relationship with deviant behavior, and several life transitions were not significantly related to deviant outcomes. When examined together, the predictors explained a modest but significant portion of variance in deviant behavior. These findings suggest that early adverse experiences and the presence or absence of supportive social relationships play an important role in shaping behavioral pathways across the life course. This study contributes to the growing literature on childhood trauma and deviant behavior by integrating psychological and life course perspectives and highlighting the importance of trauma-informed prevention and intervention efforts that strengthen social support and resilience.
Thesis Completion Year
2026
Thesis Completion Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair
Lim, Mengzhen
College
College of Sciences
Department
Psychology
Thesis Discipline
Psychology
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Popp, Chiara S., "Factors Related to Deviant Behavior" (2026). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 491.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/491
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