Abstract

Vulnerability to trauma, depression, and chronic conditions in adulthood increases with exposure to early life adversity (ACEs) during childhood. This study investigated the effect of adverse early childhood experiences has on depressive symptoms (measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Screening scale -CESD), somatic symptoms (measured using Cohen- Hoberman Inventory of Physical symptoms scale- CHIPS), resilience (measured using the Brief Resilience Scale- BRS), and young adult health-related quality-of-life (measured using Health Related Quality of Life scale- HRQOL) among a diverse sample of young adults (average age 27 years old). A diverse sample of 341 participants were recruited for the study using Pace University’s SONA Study Scheduling System Research Platform , social media platforms (i.e., Reddit, Facebook, LinkedIn). The collected data was analyzed utilizing frequencies and descriptive statistics of each variable examined; all statistical analyses met significant values at p < .05. Pearson correlations analysis was conducted for all correlating relationships. The quantitative findings revealed significant relationships between adverse childhood experiences, depressive symptoms, and perceived childhood health. Perceived socioeconomic status was also found to have a strong positive relationship with resilience. Adverse childhood experiences significantly predicted higher levels of depression symptoms later in life and poor perceived childhood health. However, moderation analyses revealed non-significant results, suggesting that perceived socioeconomic status did not moderate the effects of adverse childhood experiences on health-related quality of life and resilience; findings suggest that the study's variables may be impacted by complex confounding factors. Lastly, resilience significantly mediates the relationships between adverse childhood experiences and depression symptoms; resilience partially mediated the relationship between ACEs and somatic symptoms. Resilience was not found to mediate the relationship between ACEs and health related quality of life. Lastly, although a mediation relationship was not determined, a direct relationship was found between ACEs and perceived childhood health.

Akruti Patel

First Advisor

Sonia Suchday

Document Type

ETD

Date of Award

7-30-2024

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