Date
4-18-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Angela Rathkamp
Keywords
Adverse Childhood Experiences, Nutrition, Trauma
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Ostrout, Tabitha, "Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adult Nutrition; A Correlational Study" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 6664.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/6664
Abstract
There is a wealth of knowledge surrounding adverse childhood experiences and their immediate consequences. In recent years, researchers have expanded the scope of studies to explore the long-term impact of these negative early childhood events. One focus of interest is examining the connection between adverse childhood experiences and adult nutrition. To further contribute to the body of knowledge, a quantitative research study was conducted to determine if there is a correlation between the two variables. Data was collected from 106 participants to analyze the impact that adverse childhood experiences may have on later adult nutrition, as well as to investigate if either income or education moderates this relationship. There was a significant negative relationship between adverse childhood experiences and adult nutrition, where as the number of adverse childhood experiences increased, adult nutrition was poorer. Neither income nor education was found to moderate the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and adult nutrition. This study supported the existing body of knowledge that adverse childhood experiences do impact adult nutrition, and it provided a more complete picture of adult nutrition that was not fully addressed in previous work. Findings from this study suggest the need for expanded adverse childhood experience assessments at primary care facilities in order to provide nutrition resources for those who indicate an early traumatic event.
