ABSTRACT

Every individual has a unique life story that forms who they are today. Their personality, behaviors, and mental developments are all traced back to how they were raised and what adverse experiences they have encountered in their childhood. Supported by various outside peer-reviewed resources, this study was conducted to determine if unhealthy behaviors and emotional developments are formed from childhood experiences or from conscious life decisions. The predetermined results of this topic of discussion state that individuals who have a significant childhood trauma are at higher risk of stress, anxiety, or mental developments as an adult. This is also associated with the empathy of those with similar childhood traumas. A questionnaire was created and directed towards college students over the age 18 at a private Christian university in Southeastern Michigan to focus on their individual perspectives on adverse childhood experiences based on their age, environment, gender, and type of experiences. The first half of the questionnaire were demographics, whereas the additional five selective questions were focused on the perception of individuals who voluntarily answered. The product of this study is to show that environments or situations similar to that of their childhood trauma can increase their stress levels as an adult. This also includes developed behaviors such empathy as a result of increased stress or anxiety.

Keywords: Adverse, Behaviors, Stress, Traumatic, Personality