Date of Award

12-2024

Document Type

Campus Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Clinical Psychology

First Advisor

Jean E. Rhodes

Second Advisor

Alice S. Carter

Third Advisor

Paul G. Nestor

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events (e.g., emotional abuse, physical neglect, incarcerated family member) that may undermine a child’s sense of safety, stability, and bonding. ACE exposure is experienced disproportionately by Black and Hispanic children (Slopen et al., 2016; Maguire-Jack et al., 2019). Research has shown that strong social bonds can buffer the impact of ACEs (Hughes et al., 2017; Astridge et al., 2023), leading to the referral of many children with ACEs to mentoring programs as a means of mitigating potential negative outcomes (Rhodes, 2020). However, while ACE exposure is higher among youth in mentoring programs compared to the national average (Jarjoura et al., 2018), less is known about how this exposure may influence the strength of mentoring relationships. This study examined the rates of ACE exposure in a community-based Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) mentoring program in eastern Massachusetts and explored the relationships among ACE exposure, parent-reported social-emotional competencies (SEC), and youth-reported strength of mentoring relationships. Mentees in the program reported significantly higher rates of ACEs compared to national estimates, and White mentees reported higher rates of cumulative ACEs, exposure to mental illness in the household, and substance abuse in the household compared to Black and Hispanic/Latiné mentees. Mentees with higher ACE exposure reported lower SEC. Surprisingly, however, ACE exposure was not directly related to the perceived strength of mentoring relationships. SEC, rather, was found to be a significant predictor of the strength of mentoring relationships. Understanding these associations may provide insights on how to strengthen mentoring programs and guide mentors who are matched with youth who have experienced a high number of ACEs. Understanding the impact of ACEs on mentees’ social-emotional skills can provide valuable insights for strengthening mentoring programs and guiding mentors working with youth who have experienced significant trauma.

Comments

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Additional Files

Saniya MA Signature Page.pdf (209 kB)

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