Date Thesis Awarded
4-2024
Access Type
Honors Thesis -- Access Restricted On-Campus Only
Degree Name
Bachelors of Science (BS)
Department
Psychology
Advisor
Adrian Bravo
Committee Members
Patricia Habersham
Paul Kieffaber
Abstract
Psychoneuroimmunology is a new field of research that highlights the effects of psychological factors, such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), on immune function. The present study aimed to investigate how ACEs, COVID-19 related stress, and low socioeconomic (SES) status, interact to affect immune function among young adults. More specifically, we were interested in investigating COVID-19 stress and SES as moderators on the relationship between ACEs and immune function. College students (n=1,938) were recruited from five universities across the U.S. from December 2021 to July 2023. Participants answered survey questions as part of a larger study investigating the long-term impact of COVID-19 on physical health, mental health, and substance use. The demographics of the analytic sample showed that the majority of participants identified as cis woman (n=1,169, 60.3%) and White (n=1,277, 65.9%), with an average age of 19.56 years old (SD=2.78). For our SES moderation model, we did not find a significant interaction. However, we did find that COVID-19 related stress significantly moderated the relationship between ACEs and poor immune function. Specifically, individuals who experienced more childhood ACEs reported significantly reduced immune function in young adulthood and this relationship was strongest for those endorsing higher COVID-19 related stress. Overall, our study findings identified COVID-19 related stress as a significant moderator of the relationship between ACEs and poor immune function. As COVID-19 effects are still present, this calls for a need for more targeted interventions for at-risk college students that may be implemented at the university level.
Keywords: Adverse Childhood Experiences, COVID-19 Stress, Socioeconomic Status, Immune Function
Recommended Citation
Reddy, Maya, "Adverse Childhood Experiences on College Student’s Immune Function Status: An Analysis of Socioeconomic Status and COVID-19 Stress" (2024). Undergraduate Honors Theses. William & Mary. Paper 2097.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/2097
