Role of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Aggression among Young Adults with Parenting Style as a Moderator

Abstract

The study was designed to investigate the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and aggression among young adults of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, with a particular focus on parenting style as a moderator. A sample of 177 young adults was recruited using snowball sampling technique. The instruments used in the study were the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), the Parenting Authority Questionnaire (PAQ - Short version), and the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACEQ). The findings indicated that men reported greater instances of physical aggression compared to women. Individuals who had experienced ACEs showed significantly higher levels of aggression. Furthermore, a positive relationship was found between both permissive and authoritarian parenting styles and aggression in young adults. Notably, permissive parenting style was found to moderate the relationship between ACEs and aggression. This indicates that permissive parenting exacerbates the effects of ACEs on aggression. The findings highlight the critical role of parenting in shaping the behavioral outcomes of individuals with adverse childhood histories. Present research will be helpful for the policy makers to recommend, and for the parents to adopt an appropriate parenting style for nurturing children into psychologically healthy adults.