Exploring the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Hope

ABSTRACT

To explore the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and hope, a convenience sample of caregivers bringing in children for medical investigation of child abuse at a regional child advocacy center were surveyed for adverse childhood experiences and dispositional hope. Hope in this sample had a significant negative correlation to the adverse childhood experiences subscale “abuse” (r = –.19; p < .05). The relationship between hope and the other adverse childhood experiences subscales “neglect” (r = –.14) and “dysfunctional family” (r = –.16) was not statistically significant. An analysis of variance was performed to determine if caregivers who have experienced both sexual and physical abuse (M = 29.67; SD = 15.96) have lower hope scores compared to those caregivers who have experienced neither physical nor sexual abuse (M = 42.64; SD = 18.44). This analysis (F (1, 84) = 5.28; p < 0.05) showed that caregivers who experienced both physical and sexual abuse scored significantly lower on hope compared to their counterparts who experienced no adverse events, with an estimated effect size of moderate strength (d = 0.70). Higher adverse childhood experiences scores are associated with lower hope. This result was especially true for those adult caregivers who reported experiencing both physical and sexual abuse when compared to adults who did not experience either form of child trauma. While the empirical literature continues to demonstrate the negative consequences of adverse childhood experiences across the life span, hope offers a compelling new line of inquiry in child maltreatment research especially for studies targeting prevention or intervention.

KEYWORDS:

• Child Abuse
• adverse childhood experiences
• hope
• physical abuse
• sexual abuse

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Michael A. Baxter

Michael A. Baxter, DO, is an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, School of Community Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Tulsa, OK, the program director for the Child Abuse Pediatric Fellowship, School of Community Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Tulsa, OK, and medical director of the child abuse pediatric team at the Children's Advocacy Center, Tulsa, OK.

Eden J. Hemming

Eden J. Hemming, MA, is a Research Assistant, Department of Pediatrics, School of Community Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Tulsa, OK.

Heather C. McIntosh

Heather C. Mclntosh, MS, CRA, LSSGB, is Staff Director and Research Statistician, Office for Research Development and Scholarly Activity, School of Community Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Tuls, OK.

Chan M. Hellman

Chan Hellman, PHD, is Professor in the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work at the University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, Oklahoma.