Date Thesis Awarded
12-2022
Access Type
Honors Thesis -- Access Restricted On-Campus Only
Degree Name
Bachelors of Science (BS)
Department
Psychology
Advisor
Danielle H. Dallaire
Committee Members
Paula M. Pickering
Christopher Ball
Abstract
Experiencing childhood trauma has been linked to many negative outcomes, including future social networking addiction (SNA), alcohol use disorder (AUD), and internet gaming disorder (IGD). However, few studies have evaluated potential factors that may explain these associations. Due to its associations both with childhood trauma and SNA, AUD, and IGD, research supports that self-regulation may play a mediating role in these relations. The present study examined self-regulation as a mediator between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and future rates of SNA, AUD, and IGD in American college students. Additionally, it examined the moderating effects of race and gender on the mediation models. Participants were recruited from college psychology department pools and took part in an online survey that included measures evaluating ACEs, SNA, AUD, and IGD. The results identified that ACEs were significantly positively associated with increased severity of SNA, AUD, and IGD. Additionally, self-regulation was significantly negatively associated with SNA, AUD, and IGD. The findings did show that self-regulation served as a significant mediator between ACE scores and SNA. This was also the case for ACE scores and IGD. However, self-regulation did not serve as a significant mediator between ACEs and AUD. Gender did significantly moderate the relation between self-regulation and IGD; specifically, the association was stronger for male participants. However, gender did not serve as a moderator for SNA or AUD. Race did not serve as a moderator for any of the associations. These results suggests that it may be beneficial to incorporate self-regulation development into programs designed to treat or prevent addiction for individuals who experienced childhood trauma.
Recommended Citation
Pantner, Marina, "An Investigation of Self-Regulation as a Mediator Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Future Addictive Behaviors" (2022). Undergraduate Honors Theses. William & Mary. Paper 1903.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/1903
