Date
6-26-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Kelly Gorbett
Keywords
adverse childhood experiences, generational trauma, resilience, mother-daughter relationship
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Copeland, Taressa R., "Finding Strength in the Broken Places: Examining the Influence of ACEs on the Mother/Daughter Relationship" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7151.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7151
Abstract
Daughters raised by mothers who experienced childhood adversity may be ill-equipped for motherhood themselves due to the mother’s guilt and societal stigma associated with the adversity and the impact on lived experiences. Current studies fail to consider the bidirectional influence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on the mother-daughter relationship. Community stakeholders such as healthcare providers must find a way to support the mother-daughter relationship by providing a safe platform to share and understand experiences as well as identify opportunities for resilience. Resources are also necessary to raise awareness and support mental health. This study used a qualitative phenomenological approach to examine the indirect relationship between ACEs and the mother-daughter relationship through shared lived experiences. The sample consisted of 16 undergraduate and/or graduate students recruited from Liberty University who were at least 18 years old, identified as a mother of a biological daughter, had experienced at least one adverse childhood experience, and had experienced resilience. Phase I of the study included a demographic questionnaire, and Phase II consisted of a recorded semi-structured open-ended interview, which consisted of 11 open-ended questions that took approximately two hours to complete. The data was organized and manually transcribed to develop significant statements that best defined the essence of the experience. The results indicated that even though the participants vowed not to repeat the dysfunctional parenting they experienced as a child, they were not confident in their abilities to break the cycle. The impact of childhood adversity resulted in significant trust issues, which affected relationships and self-worth. The study filled a gap in the existing literature relative to the impact of adverse childhood experiences on the mother-daughter relationship.
