Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adolescent Substance Use: The Roles of Emotion Regulation and Attachment Security
Abstract
Substance use among adolescents is on the rise and is a risk factor for a number of negative life outcomes. The relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and behavioral health outcomes, such as substance use, have been well-documented. However, the relationship between ACEs and substance use in adolescents, as well as the role of mediating and moderating variables, has not been sufficiently explored. Using data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), this study aims to further examine the relationship between ACEs and adolescent substance use as well as to explore the role of emotion regulation and attachment security. The results show that there is a small but significant relationship between ACEs and adolescent substance use. The findings did not support the role of attachment as a moderator between ACEs and adolescent substance use. The findings further show that, though the relationship between ACEs and emotion regulation is significant, emotion regulation does not mediate the relationship between ACEs and adolescent substance use. The implications for social work policy and practice include an enhanced focus on early intervention for and prevention of ACEs as well as a focus on trauma-informed care in social work education.
Subject Area
Social work|Developmental psychology|Psychology
Recommended Citation
Amarante, James, "Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adolescent Substance Use: The Roles of Emotion Regulation and Attachment Security" (2024). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI31146865.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI31146865
