Adverse Childhood Experience, Big 5 Personality Traits and Parent Adult-Child Relationship: A Correlational Study Among Young Adults

Abstract

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) play a important role in shaping personality traits and influencing relationships in adulthood, particularly among adult-children with their parents. This research explores correlation between ACEs and parent-adult child relationships, the differences of ACE exposure between individuals aged (18–21) and (22–25), and the variations in parent-adult child relationships across these age groups. It was found that individuals with higher ACE exposure tend to have strained relationships with their parents, often marked by communication barriers, emotional detachment, and unresolved conflicts. Additionally, important gaps were observed in the reporting of ACEs among the two age groups, with younger participants (18–21) showing higher recollection of recent adversities, while older participants (22–25) demonstrated a shift in perception over time. Similarly, variations in parent-adult child relationships were noted between the age groups, suggesting that relational dynamics evolve with maturity and life experiences. This research highlights the need for age-specific interventions to address childhood adversity and strengthen familial bonds through targeted psychological and support strategies.