Date of Award

1-1-2016

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Megan Smith

Second Advisor

Debbie Humphries

Abstract

Introduction: Trauma represents a significant public health issue that has been associated with a number of adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Additionally, parenting practices have been found to be affected by trauma. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), one conceptualization of trauma, are also associated with adverse outcomes. However, limited research has been done on ACEs and their association to parenting stress and practices. As such, this study aims to understand this relationship. Methods: Surveys (n=1985) were administered to a population of low-income, parenting women to determine community needs and eligibility for a mental health intervention. At the baseline visit, measures to assess women’s parenting stress and practices were completed, and included the Parenting Stress Index – Short Form (PSI-SF) and Positive Parenting Practices (PPP) scale. Linear regression procedures (n=81) were conducted to assess the relationship between ACEs and parenting stress and practices, including if there was a dose-response relationship. Given the significant homogeneity of the sample and results of Fisher’s Exact tests, no demographic or clinical variables were controlled for in these analyses. Results: For the PSI-SF, significant, dose-response relationships were observed between ACEs and the PSI Total Stress score (p

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