Wednesday, February 5, 2025
2/5/2025
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have become a significant public health concern in the U.S. ACEs are potentially traumatic events that occur to children under the age of 18, including all types of abuse, neglect, and exposure to household challenges (e.g., having lived with a household member with substance use disorder). Varying sources suggest that 50-60% of U.S. adults report at least one ACE, and 15-25% report three or more. These statistics are concerning because experiencing ACEs has been shown to negatively affect various aspects of adult lives, including health outcomes, relationships, and financial and social status. Despite this established research, the impact of ACEs has not been studied in the context of caregiving for aging parents. Extensive prior studies have identified a comprehensive list of risk and protective factors related to caregiver stress; however, these factors tend to be proximal with little attention given to distal or early life course factors such as ACEs. Relying on the life course perspective, the proposed research aims to examine the effect that ACEs have on the experience and outcomes of caregiving for aging parents. Using nationally representative data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) studies, secondary data analyses will be performed to address the first two aims: 1) Describe the prevalence and characteristics of filial caregivers who experienced ACEs, and 2) Examine the effect of ACEs in the association between daily caregiving and short- and long-term health outcomes. The second aim particularly focuses on exploring caregivers’ physiological functioning using daily cortisol levels to successfully quantify stress effects associated with filial caregiving. In addition, qualitative research will be conducted to address the third aim: 3) Explore caregivers’ experience of ACEs and illustrate whether and how ACEs affect their caregiving experience in terms of stress sources and the strategies they use to cope with caregiving stress. This K01 award would provide Dr. Jooyoung Kong with the training required to become an independent scholar and leading expert in later-life family relationships and caregiving for adults who experienced childhood trauma and adversity. The proposed training plan would allow Dr. Kong to receive instruction and mentorship toward meeting the following career goals: 1) Increase substantive knowledge in psychobiology; 2) Obtain advanced training in quantitative research methods and analysis; and 3) Gain advanced training in qualitative research methods and analysis. The K01 award will lead to an R01 grant application that will propose to conduct primary data collection to further investigate caregivers with histories of ACEs informed by Dr. Kong’s newly acquired substantive knowledge and methodological skills. Ultimately, this research will inform novel programs and policies to improve the health and well-being of family caregivers whose roles are becoming more significant in the current aging society.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).