The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Assault

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: One in 7 children are abused or neglected during childhood with 1,840 resulting child annual deaths (CDC, 2022). Abuse victimization may transform into revictimization (Trabold et al., 2015); less work has emphasized aggressive perpetration. Therefore, this present study hypothesized that maltreatment adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, or witnessing domestic violence would associate with later misdemeanor assault.

METHOD: Participants (N=445, 77% female) were young adults (M=20.15 years, SD= 4.91), who identified 65% as White, 15% Black, 7% biracial, 5% Middle Eastern, and 8% other. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis evaluated whether these ACEs were significantly and uniquely related to misdemeanor assault.

RESULTS: Physical abuse (r=.125, p=.009), sexual abuse (r=.171, p<0.001), emotional abuse (r=.122, p=.010), emotional neglect (r=.160, p=.001), and witnessing domestic violence (r=.096, p=.043) all significantly related to assault at the bivariate level. Only sexual abuse (OR=4.879, p=0.012) and emotional neglect (OR=3.729, p=0.049) were significantly related to assault when examined in conjunction with the other ACEs.

DISCUSSION: Further research should examine whether ACEs lead to other violent crimes, such as murder or sexual assault. This research could be used in interventions to reduce assault perpetration.

Authors

• Gwendolyn Day Wheatley, Cleveland State University

• Ishita Munshi, Cleveland State University

• Elizabeth A. Goncy, Cleveland State University