Exploring Adverse Childhood Experiences and their Relation to Historical and Future Prenatal and Birth Stress

Additional Authors

Jessica M. Templeton and Samuel Webb, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events occurring before the age of 18. ACEs are known to predict negative biopsychosocial outcomes in adulthood, but little is known about whether they are also associated with stress during pregnancy. In this project, we investigated relationships between pregnancy stress and caregiver and child ACE scores. We hypothesized that caregiver and child ACE scores would be highest among caregivers reporting “toxic” levels of pregnancy stress. Participants were 494 caregivers who completed an anonymous online survey. Caregiver ACE scores were obtained from the Health-Resiliency-Stress Questionnaire (HRSQ; Wiet et al., 2019). Children’s ACE scores were also obtained via the HRSQ, but through parent- rather than self-report. Pregnancy stress was measured using the Pregnancy and Birth Stress Inventory (Salley et al., 2005). Based on their stress scores, caregivers were identified as belonging to either a “toxic,” “tolerable,” or “no stress” group. An ANOVA revealed significant differences in caregiver ACE scores as a function of severity of pregnancy stress [F(2, 290) = 8.521, p < .001]. Post-hoc analyses revealed that caregiver ACE scores in the “no stress” group (M = 3.92, SD = 3.47) were significantly lower than ACE scores in the other groups. A second ANOVA revealed a difference in child ACE scores as a function of pregnancy stress [F(2, 289) = 37.24, p < .001]. In this case, post-hoc analyses revealed that child ACEs in the toxic pregnancy group (M = 3.33, SD = 3.36) were higher than child ACEs in the other groups. These results support our hypothesis that pregnancy stress may be associated with experiences of adversity in childhood. These findings also add stressful pregnancy to the list of negative long-term outcomes associated with experiences of adversity in childhood. ACE screeners may be advisable for pregnant people or people considering having children.

Start Time

16-4-2025 9:00 AM

End Time

16-4-2025 11:30 AM

Presentation Type

Poster

Presentation Category

Social Sciences

Student Type

Undergraduate Student

Faculty Mentor

Wallace Dixon

Faculty Department

Psychology

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Apr 16th, 9:00 AM Apr 16th, 11:30 AM

Exploring Adverse Childhood Experiences and their Relation to Historical and Future Prenatal and Birth Stress

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events occurring before the age of 18. ACEs are known to predict negative biopsychosocial outcomes in adulthood, but little is known about whether they are also associated with stress during pregnancy. In this project, we investigated relationships between pregnancy stress and caregiver and child ACE scores. We hypothesized that caregiver and child ACE scores would be highest among caregivers reporting “toxic” levels of pregnancy stress. Participants were 494 caregivers who completed an anonymous online survey. Caregiver ACE scores were obtained from the Health-Resiliency-Stress Questionnaire (HRSQ; Wiet et al., 2019). Children’s ACE scores were also obtained via the HRSQ, but through parent- rather than self-report. Pregnancy stress was measured using the Pregnancy and Birth Stress Inventory (Salley et al., 2005). Based on their stress scores, caregivers were identified as belonging to either a “toxic,” “tolerable,” or “no stress” group. An ANOVA revealed significant differences in caregiver ACE scores as a function of severity of pregnancy stress [F(2, 290) = 8.521, p < .001]. Post-hoc analyses revealed that caregiver ACE scores in the “no stress” group (M = 3.92, SD = 3.47) were significantly lower than ACE scores in the other groups. A second ANOVA revealed a difference in child ACE scores as a function of pregnancy stress [F(2, 289) = 37.24, p < .001]. In this case, post-hoc analyses revealed that child ACEs in the toxic pregnancy group (M = 3.33, SD = 3.36) were higher than child ACEs in the other groups. These results support our hypothesis that pregnancy stress may be associated with experiences of adversity in childhood. These findings also add stressful pregnancy to the list of negative long-term outcomes associated with experiences of adversity in childhood. ACE screeners may be advisable for pregnant people or people considering having children.