ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND THEIR RELATIVITY TO AGGRESSION OF YOUNG ADULTS IN MALITA, DAVAO OCCIDENTAL PHILIPPINES

Abstract

Using a descriptive-correlational approach, this study aimed to quantify the prevalence of ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) and aggression among young adults in Malita. It specifically determines the level of ACEs and aggression, the significant relationship between ACEs and aggression, and the area of the independent variable that was most strongly associated with the aggression of young adults. 98 respondents were randomly selected to take part in the study. The independent variable was measured using two adapted questionnaires, namely, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Questionnaire [47] and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire [26], while Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (1992) [22] for the dependent variable. The researchers made used of a variety of statistical methods, including the mean, Spearman's rho, and step-wise multiple regression. Among the five types of abuse, results showed that emotional abuse was a commonly reported form of adversity in childhood. Meanwhile, at the level of aggression, verbal aggression was shown to have the highest responses out of the three different types of aggression. The findings of the study showed no statistical significance between varia-bles. While emotional neglect, among other forms of adversity in childhood, was the lone predictor of aggression in young adults.