"I Had a Perfect Childhood": The Role of Denial and Impulsivity Facets in Shaping Adult Mental Health After Trauma

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including child abuse and neglect, are a significant public health concern with long-term effects on psychopathology in adulthood. The current study explores the potential mediating role that denial and impulsivity facets have in the relationship between ACEs and externalizing behaviors (i.e., substance misuse, conduct-related behaviors, conflict with social media use). Utilizing data from 478 adults and three different questionnaires, namely the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Externalizing Spectrum Inventory (ESI-100), and the Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS), this study examined three hypotheses. First, there will be a negative correlation between ACEs and denial, with weaker negative correlations when examining the specific subtypes of physical and sexual abuse. Second, denial will mediate the relationship between ACEs and externalizing behaviors, therefore mirroring the results from previous literature focused on internalizing psychopathology. Finally, impulsivity facets will also emerge as mediators in the relationship, reinforcing results from past studies on the centrality of impulsivity traits in the emergence of externalizing behaviors in adulthood. By integrating prior research and theoretical frameworks, the current thesis aims to clarify the mechanisms through which denial and impulsivity contribute to psychopathology after experiencing ACEs in childhood.