Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Resilience, and Parenting Behavior Perceptions Amongst Young Adults

Previous research indicates that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a significant impact on individuals’ psychological and physical well-being through adulthood. The literature of resilience focuses on protective factors (e.g., positive parenting) that potentially mitigate the detrimental impact of many risk factors, such as ACEs. However, there is limited research about the effects on perceptions of parenting behaviors for individuals with a history of ACEs. This study examined the relationship between and among ACEs, resilience, and parenting behavior perceptions, utilizing Mowder’s (2005) Parent Development Theory (PDT) as the theoretical basis to understand the parent role. This research also considered individual diversity factors, such as ethnicity and socioeconomic status, in relation to ACEs, resilience, and parenting behavior perceptions. This study found that in a sample of young adults attending college there is not an overall strong relationship between ACEs and parenting behavior perceptions. Measures of resilience were not found to be significantly correlated with a history of ACEs. Results demonstrate that socio-cultural factors such as ethnicity and socioeconomic status influence parenting perceptions, albeit in somewhat limited ways in the current sample. Nonetheless, this research suggests that college attendance implicates a certain level of resilience, despite early childhood obstacles, and thus also shapes attitudes towards parenting in a positive way. Mental health professionals may gain from this research in terms of tailoring interventions and parenting education resources to those individuals who have experienced ACEs.