Date of Award
Summer 8-2016
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Pearl Berman, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Krys Kaniasty, Ph.D.
Third Advisor
John A. Mills, Ph.D., ABPP
Abstract
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are linked to poor adult health (Felitti et al., 1998; Brown et al., 2010). Research on ACEs exposure in college students is lacking. This study examined the impact of ACEs, health risk behaviors, and resiliency factors on objective and subjective measures of health in college students. ACEs and health risk behaviors emerged as significant predictors of both measures of health. However, when resiliency factors were accounted for, gender and life satisfaction and perceived stress were the only significant predictors of health problems. Similarly, gender, health risk behaviors, social support and perceived stress were the only significant predictors of self-rated health. Gender and perceived stress emerged as predictors of health risk behavior engagement, the impact of ACE score approached significance. When less conservative models of mediation were used, health risk behaviors mediated the relationship between ACE score and both measures of health. Similarly, satisfaction with life and perceived stress mediated the relationship between ACE score and health problems. Social support and perceived stress mediated the relationship between ACE score and self-rated health. Findings suggest that ACE exposure has a lasting impact on health. The ability of resiliency factors to predict health has important implications for working with college students.
Recommended Citation
Khrapatina, Irina, "The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Physical Health in College Students: A Replication and Extension of the ACE Study" (2016). Theses and Dissertations (All). 1374.
https://knowledge.library.iup.edu/etd/1374