The impact of adverse childhood experiences on God images.

Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the effect of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on evangelicals' relationships with God as adults. Current research shows that sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and certain types of family dysfunction in childhood negatively impact a person's attachment relationship with God. Using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire and the 36-item God Image Scale, this study tested the hypotheses that composite ACE score would be negatively correlated with (a) Presence, (b) Challenge, and (c) Acceptance subscales of the God Image Scale for an evangelical sample. A snowball sample was recruited via social media, and participants with evangelical beliefs were identified by strong agreement with four statements developed by the National Association of Evangelicals (2015). Multiple regression analyses for Presence (adjusted R2 = .002, F = 1.046, p = .407), Challenge (adjusted R2 = -.009, F = .816, p = .625), and Acceptance (adjusted R2 = .009, F = 1.179, p = .303) were not significant, and the hypotheses were not upheld. These results suggest further research is needed to examine factors that mediate the relationship between ACEs and God image.