Date of Award

Summer 8-22-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology

Organizational Unit

Morgridge College of Education, Counseling Psychology

First Advisor

Julia Roncoroni

Second Advisor

Galena Rhoades

Third Advisor

Lisa Brownstone Libby

Fourth Advisor

Devadrita Talapatra

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Maternal health, Perinatal, Resilience, Self efficacy, Trauma, Women

Abstract

Childhood maltreatment and toxic stress pose significant risks to both individuals and communities, yielding negative outcomes that can perpetuate across generations— a phenomenon known as intergenerational trauma. Early intervention is imperative to disrupt this cycle of adversity and promote positive outcomes. One promising approach involves leveraging protective and promotive factors that cultivate resilience. Individuals with higher levels of benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) and greater social support tend to exhibit enhanced self-efficacy, thereby potentially buffering the detrimental effects of childhood trauma. Furthermore, the perinatal period presents a critical juncture where maternal well-being significantly impacts both mother and child. The current study examined whether BCEs and perceived social support moderated the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and maternal self-efficacy in a sample of perinatal women (N = 87) enrolled at MotherWise Colorado, a community mental health organization serving women and families during pregnancy and postpartum. Participants completed validated measures of ACEs, BCEs, perceived social support, maternal selfefficacy, and current PTSD symptom severity. Contrary to hypotheses, ACEs were not significantly associated with maternal self-efficacy, and neither BCEs nor perceived social support emerged as significant moderators. However, perceived social support was positively associated with maternal self-efficacy at the bivariate level, and BCEs were significantly associated with lower current trauma symptoms. These findings suggest that protective and promotive factors may operate through indirect pathways rather than as direct buffers against childhood adversity. Implications for trauma informed clinical practice, future longitudinal research, and equity centered perinatal policy are discussed.

Copyright Date

8-2026

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Brigid Magdamo

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

87 pgs

File Size

2.2 MB

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