Date of Award:

8-2023

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Psychology

Committee Chair(s)

Melissa Tehee

Committee

Melissa Tehee

Committee

Susan L. Crowley

Committee

JoAnn T. Tschanz

Committee

Renee V. Galliher

Committee

Marisela Martinez-Cola

Abstract

Adversity encompasses a wide range of stress-inducing experiences that are often prolonged and/or recurring in nature. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) capture adversity experienced before the age of 18, including abuse, neglect, and general household dysfunction. ACEs are widely linked to physical and mental health outcomes across the lifespan. Racial/ethnic discrimination, a form of adversity that can occur across the lifespan, has also been linked to many negative health outcomes. Protective and compensatory experiences in childhood (PACEs) are a relatively newer conceptualization of early-life resiliency factors. Early life resiliency is linked to positive health outcomes later in life. Our studies investigated relations among adversity (ACEs and discrimination), resiliency (PACEs), and health outcomes (depressive symptoms, mental health diagnoses, physical health diagnoses, and self-related health). We used a longitudinal study, the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health ("Add Health"), which contains data from adolescent years to middle adulthood. In Study 1, we investigated the relations among ACEs, PACEs, and adult health outcomes, specifically exploring if PACEs interact with the effect of ACEs on adult health outcomes. In Study 2, we utilized a sample of racial/ethnic minority participants to investigate relations among racial discrimination, PACEs, and adult health outcomes, specifically looking to see if PACEs interact with the effect of discrimination on adult health outcomes. We found that ACEs predicted depressive symptoms and mental health diagnoses in adulthood. Discrimination was predictive of depressive symptoms and mental health diagnoses. PACEs predicted self-rated health. PACEs did not serve as a moderator for any of the relations between adversity variables (ACEs and discrimination) and health outcomes. PACEs did not influence the relations between adversity variables (ACEs and discrimination) and any health outcomes. We discuss what these research findings mean and what they imply for future research.

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