Date of Graduation

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Psychological Science

Advisor/Mentor

Eidelman, Scott

Committee Member

Zabelina, Darya

Second Committee Member

Bogda, Kristin

Third Committee Member

Wheeler, Jill

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur during the first 18 years of life and have a strong potential to negatively impact health and well-being in adulthood. The exploration of this connection is important because health and lifestyle behaviors have been linked to the leading causes of death in the United States. ACEs have been found to alter brain development and have been associated with mental health issues and lower life satisfaction, but information about the pathway between these connections is scarce. The present study aimed to investigate if inadequate emotional regulation and higher levels of perceived stress, stemming from ACEs, may explain the relationship between ACEs and mental health issues as well as the relationship between ACEs and lower life satisfaction. Evidence of partial mediation was found in that emotional regulation and perceived stress partially mediate the relationship between ACEs and mental health, and ACEs and life satisfaction.

Keywords

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs); mental health; life satisfaction; emotional regulation; perceived stress

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