Chelsea Wysinger

Mentor: Dr. Kimberly Davidson
Research: Adverse Childhood Experiences and Subsequent Parenting Behaviors

Evidence suggests parenting behaviors can be impacted by adverse childhood experiences. Adverse childhood experiences, also known as ACEs, are defined by potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood such as neglect, parental divorce, or emotional and physical abuse. In this study, we examined the connection between the number of ACEs a parent experienced as a child and their use of harsh parenting styles with their own children in a sample of 1,079 participants from Trinidad and Tobago. Findings show the more ACEs a person experienced during childhood, the more likely they were to engage in harsh parenting styles. This study provides further support to past research showing a positive relationship between experiencing ACEs as a child and engaging in harsh parenting practices as an adult.