Adverse Childhood Experiences and Intergenerational Relationships in Young Adulthood: Variation Across Gender, Race and Ethnicity

Abstract

Young adults’ quality relationships with parents are essential for their meaningful achievements and transition into adulthood. We aimed to examine the long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on young adults’ relationships with parents and the moderating roles of gender and race/ethnicity. We used data from Waves I, III, and IV of Add Health and focused on respondents’ reports of closeness, satisfaction with communication, and the receipt and provision of financial support with mothers and fathers at 28.9 years of age on average. The key predictor was a cumulative score of 10 different types of adversity experienced in the family. We employed a series of multiple regression analyses. The key results showed that young adults’ greater cumulative ACEs were significantly associated with decreased closeness and communication satisfaction with both parents and less frequent financial support received from fathers. ACEs were significantly associated with more frequent financial support provided to mothers but not fathers. The negative associations of ACEs with closeness and communication satisfaction with mothers were exacerbated for women. We also found significant moderating effects of race/ethnicity; for example, the positive association between ACEs and the provision of financial support to mothers was strengthened for Asian young adults relative to white young adults. ACEs’ long-term effects may corroborate a pattern of cumulative disadvantage, suggesting that young adults with ACEs histories may continue to struggle in their essential family relationships. Extended support will help in the absence of strong parental support.