What Doesn’t Kill You

Jacky T Thomas,Blake Beecher

doi:10.18060/21589

Jacky T Thomas, Blake Beecher

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.18060/21589

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Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and resilience in a sample (n=139) of Masters of Social Work (MSW) students. Perceived stress, religious faith, experiential avoidance, and mindfulness were also examined as correlates of resilience. Resilience scores for the MSW students were comparable to general population and college student norms, but ACEs and perceived stress scores were higher. Despite a broad literature supporting associations of high ACE scores with varied measures of physical and psychological problems, this study paradoxically showed a positive relationship between higher ACE scores and resilience. Regression analysis indicated a model including age, ACE scores, experiential avoidance, religious faith, and perceived stress explained 39.2% of the variance in resilience scores. Prior adverse childhood experiences and stronger religious faith are associated with increased resilience, while experiential avoidance and perceived stress are associated with lower resilience. This study provides further evidence that many students come to social work education with substantial trauma histories and experience considerable stress during their studies. Results suggest that social work educators should acknowledge risks associated with avoidant coping, and provide learning experiences aimed at developing students’ capacities for increased awareness and acceptance of challenging experiences—their own and others.

Highlights

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and resilience in a sample (n=139) of Masters of Social Work (MSW) students
This study explored the associations between adverse childhood experiences and resilience, and examined relationships between resilience and perceived stress, religious faith, experiential avoidance, and mindfulness among a sample of MSW students
After receiving approval from the University Institutional Review Board, anonymous surveys consisting of demographic questions and 6 established scales measuring resilience, adverse childhood experiences, perceived stress, religious faith, experiential avoidance, and mindfulness were distributed to MSW student volunteers in 2015

Summary

Introduction

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and resilience in a sample (n=139) of Masters of Social Work (MSW) students. Regression analysis indicated a model including age, ACE scores, experiential avoidance, religious faith, and perceived stress explained 39.2 % of the variance in resilience scores. Prior adverse childhood experiences and stronger religious faith are associated with increased resilience, while experiential avoidance and perceived stress are associated with lower resilience. This study provides further evidence that many students come to social work education with substantial trauma histories and experience considerable stress during their studies. Jacky Thomas, PhD, MSW, LCSW is an Associate Professor of Social Work at California State University, San Marcos, CA, 92096. Blake Beecher, PhD, MSW, LCSW is Associate Professor and Social Work Program Director, at California State University San Marcos. Thomas & Beecher/WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU that many social workers come to the profession with a personal history of adverse childhood experiences, and that those trauma histories may, have motivated them to enter the profession (Grant, 2014; Rompf & Royse, 1994)

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