Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Carolyn McAllister

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that occur during childhood, the ages of 0 and 17. Many individuals may have experienced ACEs without fully recognizing how these early experiences continue to affect their daily lives. These inhibitors can include mental health struggles, physical health problems, academic and behavioral functioning. In contrast, Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) can serve as protective factors, helping to buffer against some of the negative outcomes associated with childhood trauma. This proposed study seeks to better understand how both ACEs and PCEs shape individuals into adulthood, particularly in their roles as parents.

This proposed research would use three questionnaires: Adverse Childhood Experiences, Positive Childhood Experiences, and Parenting Style. Data would be statistically analyzed using multinomial logistic regression to examine how ACE scores predict parenting styles. Additional variables that can be used for descriptive analyses will be age, gender, race, income, birth geographic location, and educational level. Together, these measures would provide necessary data to understand generational trauma from childhood to adulthood. It is essential for social workers to understand how early experiences influence parenting, life satisfaction, and family dynamics. It reinforces the importance of using a trauma-informed approach to further understand how past trauma continues to impact present functioning.

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