Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that an individual may experience before their 18th birthday. Experiencing four or more ACEs affects multiple aspects of an individual’s social development. ACEs can disrupt a child’s interpersonal relationships and their ability to form connections and secure attachments with others. Later, romantic relationships are one of the closest relationships that adults form, but they can be influenced by early experiences. The present study's purpose is to examine the relationship between ACEs and adult attachment styles in romantic relationships. Based on past research, it is hypothesized that 1) fewer ACEs will be negatively correlated with secure attachment (close subscale); 2) more ACEs will be positively correlated with anxious attachment (anxiety subscale); and 3) more ACEs will be positively correlated with avoidant attachment (depend on subscale). One hundred participants currently in a romantic relationship for six months or longer will be recruited. They will take the Adverse Childhood Experience scale and the Adult Attachment Scale. Once all the data is collected, a Pearson correlation will be used to test the hypotheses. These findings may address the gap in literature regarding ACEs and attachment, or be used to provide support to couples.
