Using the Socio‐Ecological Model to Explore Parents’ Resilience and Perceptions of Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Qualitative Study

Background: The negative impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on child development is documented. The parent-child relationship protects against ACEs and improves healthy child development. Hence, the parent-child environment plays a crucial role in preventing and mitigating ACEs through positive childhood experiences that elicit parental resilience. However, our understanding of the parent-child relation-ship within the social-ecological model (SEM) (i.e., intra- and interpersonal, community, and societal levels) is limited. Objective: This study explores parents’ perspectives on parental resilience as a protective factor for preventing ACEs and supporting PCEs at every level of the SEM, while considering parents’ personal ACE scores and emotional regulation (ER) scores. Method: This study uses a thematic analysis approach for qualitative research. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with members of a parent support group (PSG) (82% female, n = 14) based in a community-based organi-zation serving families (n = 17 parent interviews). Demographic information, ER, and ACE scores were collected for each participant. Results: Seven themes and 16 subthemes were identified, including parents experiencing aspects of emotional regulation from joining a PSG at all SEM levels, sensing a communication disconnect with school teachers, and parents desiring ACE prevention/mitigation training. Conclusion: ‪The insights on parental resilience perceptions are valuable and hold promise to inform future multi-level prevention strategies and mitigation practices using the SEM.