Inner strength or outer armour? Lived experiences of what supports health and wellbeing in young people who have experienced childhood adversity
Year: 2025
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The groundbreaking study by Felitti et al (1998) linking Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to ill health, adversity and trauma laid the foundation for a wide array of subsequent studies exploring the connections between childhood adversity, traumatic stress, and various health outcomes. Pioneering studies, such as the work by Bellis et al. (2014a and 2014b), have shed light on the impact of ACEs on adult physical and mental health and well-being. While much research has focused on the psychological effects of adversity, less has been carried out to explore the impact on longer term physical health. Moreover, why some young individuals develop coping behaviours that negatively influence their physical health, while others do not (Ungar 2013).The current research aimed to address the gap in the literature by exploring and analysing the experiences of young people to expand our understanding of what helps mitigate the impact of ACEs on physical health. Through a hermeneutic phenomenological lens, young people’s experiences of childhood trauma and adversity were explored, and how their wellbeing has been impacted. Interviews were conducted with 12 young people and a focus group conducted with six young carers. Data was sense- checked through outcomes from surveys from practitioners and a sense checking group to explore themes. Reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke 2022a) of participant’s accounts illustrated a journey through adversity, with one overarching theme and five key themes. The overarching theme of “outer armour or inner strength” encapsulated the way that individuals tended to “defend” or “grow” in response to the adversity. The five key themes related to “Untimely Responsibility”, “Outside Looking In”, “Coping mechanisms”, “Cohesion and Connection” and “Growth and Development” with sub themes to illustrate these areas. The findings indicate that young people who have faced adversity have navigated a complex landscape of challenges that have shaped their resilience, emotional and physical health. These outcomes underscore the importance of recognising both the impact of adversity on individual life paths and the role of individual’s resilience in navigating this journey. Recommendations are made for preventive measures and early intervention which are critical to reduce the impact of adversity and promote healthier outcomes. Addressing childhood adversity is vital, not only for the well-being of individual children but also for the overall health of our communities and society.
Author: Stopgate, Laura
Language: English
Topic: Child Abuse and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204346561