How Have Adverse Childhood Experiences Affected Our Sociability During the Covid-19 Era
Session Title
Poster Session 2
Faculty Mentor
Tara Collins, Ph.D.
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Abstract
One area that has yet to be studied in the literature is how the vulnerable population of those with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been affected by Covid-19 isolation. We hypothesized that those with more ACEs would have had a significant decline in sociability. We had 67 participants of different backgrounds whose ages ranged from 18 to 52, with a mean of 21. All participants were recruited through social media and psychology courses; some were given extra credit to participate. We assessed ACEs through the Adverse Life Experiences Scale. We assessed sociability with the EAS Temperament Survey for Adults which was completed twice, once asking participants to think of themselves before isolation and another for now. We conducted several multiple regression analyses to predict emotionality, fear, anger, activity, and sociability changes, utilizing ACE scores as the predictor. These analyses revealed no statistically significant results within the subscales. However, these data did reveal significant changes between post- and pre-covid levels of emotionality where participants reported an increase. As well, participants were found to have increased levels of activity after isolation. Lastly, participants had increased levels of anger after isolation.From our results, we can conclude that although those with higher ACE scores have an above-normal risk for changes in sociability, they were not affected any differently by the prolonged isolation. However, the pandemic has been shown to have impacted the sociability of the population through being more emotional, active, and angrier.
Course Assignment
PSYC 302 – Collins
Previously Presented/Performed?
2023 Southeastern Psychological Association Conference, New Orleans, LA, April 2023 | Winthrop University Showcase of Winthrop University Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors, Rock Hill, SC, April 2023
Type of Presentation
Poster presentation
Start Date
15-4-2023 12:00 PM
How Have Adverse Childhood Experiences Affected Our Sociability During the Covid-19 Era
One area that has yet to be studied in the literature is how the vulnerable population of those with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been affected by Covid-19 isolation. We hypothesized that those with more ACEs would have had a significant decline in sociability. We had 67 participants of different backgrounds whose ages ranged from 18 to 52, with a mean of 21. All participants were recruited through social media and psychology courses; some were given extra credit to participate. We assessed ACEs through the Adverse Life Experiences Scale. We assessed sociability with the EAS Temperament Survey for Adults which was completed twice, once asking participants to think of themselves before isolation and another for now. We conducted several multiple regression analyses to predict emotionality, fear, anger, activity, and sociability changes, utilizing ACE scores as the predictor. These analyses revealed no statistically significant results within the subscales. However, these data did reveal significant changes between post- and pre-covid levels of emotionality where participants reported an increase. As well, participants were found to have increased levels of activity after isolation. Lastly, participants had increased levels of anger after isolation.From our results, we can conclude that although those with higher ACE scores have an above-normal risk for changes in sociability, they were not affected any differently by the prolonged isolation. However, the pandemic has been shown to have impacted the sociability of the population through being more emotional, active, and angrier.
