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. 2022 Apr;37(7-8):NP3875-NP3904.
doi: 10.1177/0886260520948147. Epub 2020 Aug 27.

Childhood Environmental Instability and Social-Emotional Outcomes in Emerging Adults

Sara Babad  1 , Amanda Zwilling  1 , Kaitlin W Carson  1 , Victoria Fairchild  1 , Valentina Nikulina  1
Affiliations

Childhood Environmental Instability and Social-Emotional Outcomes in Emerging Adults

Sara Babad et al. J Interpers Violence. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can negatively affect social-emotional functioning. The association between individual and cumulative ACEs and social-emotional domains of self-esteem, loneliness, and negotiation in intimate partner relationships has not been explored in low-risk emerging adults, a gap this study aims to fill. An online survey was administered to undergraduate emerging adults, ages 18 to 25 years (Mage = 19.73, SD = 1.83; N = 436; 20.60% Hispanic; 63.80% female). The ACEs Survey, Child Abuse Potential Inventory, and Conflict Tactics Scale-2nd Edition were used. Three multivariate ordinary least squares regressions were run, each including predictors significant in bivariate analyses and outcomes of self-esteem, loneliness, and negotiation for each regression. Emotional abuse, B = -.20, p < .01; emotional neglect, B = -.21, p < .001; and substance using family member, B = -.12, p < .05, were negatively associated with self-esteem; emotional neglect, B = .11, p < .01, and cumulative ACEs, B = .16, p < .01, were positively associated with loneliness; and incarcerated family member was positively associated with negotiation, B = .12, p < .05. Overall, these findings suggest that individual ACEs associated with environmental instability (e.g., emotional abuse) are strong predictors of social-emotional outcomes, relative to ACEs associated with more direct physical harm (e.g., sexual abuse).

Keywords: adverse childhood experiences; interpersonal relationships; intimate relationships.

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