Date
7-22-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Angela Rathkamp
Keywords
adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), positive childhood experiences (PCEs), resilience, trauma, protective factors, adolescent health, coping mechanisms, adult well-being, qualitative case study
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Ruiz, Jennifer J., "Impacts of Positive Childhood Experiences That Foster Resilience in Adults With Childhood Trauma a Qualitative Case Study" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7206.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7206
Abstract
In today’s rapidly evolving environment, adolescents face increasingly complex challenges to their health and well-being. A significant contributor to these challenges is exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which have been linked to long-term negative outcomes in physical, emotional, and psychological health. The pervasive impact of ACEs highlights the urgent need to explore protective mechanisms that can buffer against these adverse effects. Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) have emerged as a promising counterbalance, offering supportive and nurturing conditions that enhance resilience and promote healthier developmental trajectories. This qualitative case study explored the specific types of PCEs that foster resilience in individuals who have experienced childhood trauma. Through in-depth interviews with adult participants, several key themes emerged: the importance of nurturing relationships with parents or caregivers, supportive community environments (including schools and churches), consistent emotional support, access to structured extracurricular activities, and internal traits such as perseverance and faith. Participants described how these factors contributed to their capacity to cope with early adversity, maintain mental health, and pursue personal goals despite past trauma. The study also revealed that participants internalized positive messages from early role models and consistently relied on faith-based coping strategies, personal determination, and access to mentors and safe spaces as central to their resilience. These findings illustrate how PCEs can mitigate the psychological toll of ACEs and foster lasting emotional strength and stability. Findings from this study contribute to the growing body of knowledge surrounding resilience theory and trauma-informed care.
