Date of Award

5-2025

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Caroline.Lim@csusb.edu

Abstract

Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are linked to a wide range of developmental, behavioral, and emotional difficulties across the lifespan. While significant research has examined the impact of maternal ACEs, limited attention has been given to the role of paternal trauma in shaping child development. Objective: This study proposes to use a quantitative descriptive design to examine the relationship between parental, particularly paternal, ACEs and developmental outcomes in children aged 0 to 5 years. Guided by social learning theory and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s (NCTSN) core concepts of trauma, the study explores how trauma-related behaviors and coping mechanisms may be modeled and transmitted intergenerationally. It is hypothesized that higher levels of paternal ACEs will correlate with increased developmental delays and socioemotional challenges in children, potentially exerting effects comparable to or greater than maternal ACEs. Methods: Participants will be recruited through Child and Family Service agencies, and data will be collected via self-report questionnaires and semi-structured interviews measuring parental ACEs and child development using tools such as the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Conclusion: The results of this study are anticipated to inform the creation of trauma-informed interventions that specifically include fathers, with the aim of fostering resilience and breaking the cycle of trauma passed from one generation to the next.

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