ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACES) AND ANXIETY, LGBTQ BELONGINGNESS, AND RESILIENCE IN LGBTQ EMERGING ADULTS

Abstract

The current study sought to investigate the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and anxiety, and ACEs and LGBTQ belongingness. Further, the study examined the moderating impact of resilience on the relationship between ACEs and anxiety, and ACEs and LGBTQ belongingness. The increasing awareness of childhood trauma impacting anxiety outcomes, LGBTQ belongingness, and resilience for minority individuals, such as LGBTQ emerging adults, warrants the need to further understand the widespread impacts. Utilizing the minority stress theory, the researcher seeks to understand the impact of minority stressors such as discrimination or victimization on minority individuals. Primary data was analyzed using a survey, created in the online website Qualtrics. Findings highlight a partial significance between ACEs and anxiety, but not for ACEs and LGBTQ belongingness. Overall, results found resilience to moderate the interaction between high ACEs and high anxiety, but only for LGBTQ emerging adults with high resilience.