The relationship between adverse childhood experiences, parenting behavior, and parenting self-efficacy in African American families with low-income

<p>Early trauma is linked to adverse adult outcomes, including parenting deficits. While prior research has emphasized specific trauma types and severe parenting deficits, less is known about how cumulative trauma shapes normative parenting behaviors. Parenting self-efficacy (PSE) has been proposed as a potential mechanism linking early adversity to later parenting practices, though under-researched. This study examined the relationships between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), PSE, and positive parenting behaviors in a sample of 56 caregivers of preschool-aged children enrolled in Head Start. PSE was significantly associated with greater use of limit-setting, positive behavior support, and proactive parenting strategies, reinforcing its role in self-perceptions of parenting behavior. However, ACEs were not significantly related to parenting behaviors, suggesting that the pathways linking early adversity to parenting may be more complex than hypothesized. Findings suggest PSE as a potential target for future interventions and emphasize the need for further research on these trends.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2025

Author dc:creator

• Holmes, Maleek

Contributors dc:contributor

• Heather Janisse, PhD
• Jamie Lawler, PhD
• Chong Man Chow, PhD

• ACEs
• Head Start
• Parenting
• Parenting Self-Efficacy
• Clinical Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1338

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2677