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WHDL - 00016440

Examining the relationship of childhood trauma to the attitudes of pregnant women towards motherhood and their unborn children in Northwest and Notheast Florida

Jordan Rachel Horvath

Resource Types

Academic (Thesis, Dissertation, Etc.)

Resource Languages

English

Institutional Repository

Description / Abstract

This dissertation entitled “Examining the Impact of Childhood Trauma History on the Attitudes of Pregnant Women on Motherhood and their Unborn Children in Northwest and Northeast Florida” seeks to add to the growing body of research surrounding childhood trauma, specifically with pregnant women. This study seeks to do so by addressing the following questions: (1) What are the participant demographics in terms of the following: number of weeks pregnant, age range, race, socioeconomic status, educational status, marital status, and county of residence? (2) What is the extent of childhood trauma experienced in Northwest and Northeast Florida? (3) What are the most common instances of childhood trauma in Northwest and Northeast Florida? (4) Is there a relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and participant demographics? (5) What insights can be gained from the Pregnancy Related Beliefs Questionnaire regarding the attitudes of pregnant women towards themselves, others, pregnancy, their babies, and motherhood? (6) Is there a relationship between the ACE scores and types of the participants and the attitudes of pregnant women regarding themselves, others, pregnancy, their babies, and motherhood in Northwest and Northeast Florida? This research was guided by a theoretical framework of trauma as it relates to the holistic development of the individual. Trauma relates to interpersonal relationships, attitude, cognitive, emotional, physical, and spiritual development. Bowlby’s Attachment Theory, Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory, and Fowler’s Theory of Spiritual Development work in conjunction to form the framework of this research. Additionally, the biological development of pregnancy was utilized to inform the research. Conceptually, the extent of trauma experienced by the individual in development will influence this individual as a mother and her attitude towards mothering and her child. In order to answer the questions posed, this research employed a mixed methods study using quantitative and qualitative measures. In Phase I of the research, fifty participants were offered the Adverse Childhood Experiences survey and the Pregnancy Related Beliefs Questionnaire. They also were given a survey of demographic information to answer. These results were scored and their responses categorized to determine possible attitudes. Frequency and percentage were used to answer questions one, two, three, and five, while Chi-Square Test was applied for question four. Question six was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and standard deviation. A p-value of <0.05 indicates correlation. In Phase II, twelve participants were interviewed to gain additional insights into childhood trauma and attitude. These responses were examined for themes and integrated with the data to form a narrative surrounding attitude and trauma. This research found that of the fifty participants, thirty-nine had an ACE score of at least 1 (72%). The majority of the fifty participants are between the ages of 18 and 26 (53%), while most participants are in the first or second trimester of pregnancy (65.4%). The ACE scores of the participants ranged from 0 to 10, with the most common ACE score to be 0 (28%) or 1 (28%). Twenty-six percent (26%) of participants had 4 or more ACEs. The most common ACE Type was Parental Divorce/Separation (52%) followed by Substance Abuse (32%). Using Chi-Square test, a correlation was found between length of pregnancy, sexual abuse, and mental illness. A correlation was also found between race, in particular white women, and verbal abuse, physical neglect, and mental illness. Marital status correlated with parental separation and divorce, domestic violence, and incarceration. Based on frequency and percentage, when PRBQ results were examined, the overall responses of all participants indicated a positive attitude towards the Self (13 of 25), Others (5 of 8) and Pregnancy (2 of 2). The overall responses of all participants indicated a negative attitude towards the Baby (6 of 11), indicated by attitudes more likely to be change-resistant. The overall attitude towards Motherhood could not be determined because there was a tie between change-receptive and change-resistant attitude responses (4 and 4). Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the p-value (<0.05) when evaluating the correlation between ACE Type and Attitude. A correlation was found between Attitude Regarding the Self and physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, parental divorce and separation, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental illness, and incarceration. For Attitude Regarding Others, there was a correlation with physical abuse, sexual abuse, divorce and separation, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental illness and incarceration. For Attitude Regarding Pregnancy, a correlation was found with physical abuse, physical neglect, substance abuse, mental illness, and incarceration. For ACE score and attitude, it was found that as the ACE score of the participant increased, the attitudes regarding the self, others, and pregnancy became more negative. The participant interviews demonstrated that although childhood trauma is pervasive and impactful, all women want to create a better life for their children than what they experienced.

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Publish Year: 2022

Subject Index

KeywordsTrauma, Childhood, Motherhood, Bowlby Attachment Theory, Piaget Cognitive Development Theory, Fowler Theory of Spiritual Development

Degree AwardedDoctor of Philosophy in Holistic Child Development

Awarding InstitutionAsia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary

Committee MembersKaren Garber-Miller, Romeo Caringal, Romerlito Macalinao, John Stephen Curada, Floy T, Cunningham

Supervisor or ChairNativity A. Petallar

Peer Reviewed?No

Place of PublicationPhilippines

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Dissertations in Holistic Child Development

13 Resources

Religion - Christianity
Social and Behavioral Sciences

English

This collection contains the dissertations of our graduates that fulfilled the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Holistic Child Development at Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary. The program is designed for those preparing to be equipped in leadership, teachers of children, practitioners, and pastors, so that they will have the gifts, skills, and capacity to care holistically for children inside and outside the church.