Childhood emotional neglect (CEN) is a common adverse childhood experience that is frequently overlooked as a form of childhood abuse. This can negatively affect emotional development, perception, and functioning in adulthood. Although research has explored the long-term effects of childhood neglect, there is still a need for a better understanding of how early experiences can influence communication, trust, and attachment within adult romantic relationships. The purpose of my literature review is to explain childhood emotional neglect and how it may have negative effects on the quality of adult romantic relationships. This literature review aims to answer what childhood emotional neglect is, what long-term effects can be associated with it, and whether these effects can impact adult romantic relationships. For the purpose of this study, a literature review of seventeen preexisting articles was performed. The sources used consisted of articles found on Google Scholar and EBSCO, with additional sources obtained from Ohio Archival databases. Results of the study reveal that childhood emotional neglect may be associated with reduced emotional empathy, higher levels of depressive symptoms, and a negative perception of oneself as explained through attachment theory. The findings suggest that childhood emotional neglect may be a developmental risk factor that shapes how individuals view themselves and others going into adulthood. The results also indicate that emotional development can be adversely affected by neglect, with potential indirect effects on emotional functioning and romantic relationship outcomes. Due to this study being a literature review, a limitation is that no new data was collected for the purpose of this study.

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a severe form of interpersonal trauma associated with elevated risk for long-term psychological distress, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although the relationship between CSA and PTSD is well established, less attention has been given to why PTSD symptom severity varies among survivors and how culturally embedded value systems may shape trauma processing over time. Within many Hispanic communities, familialism (familismo), a cultural orientation emphasizing family loyalty, obligation, interconnectedness, and preservation of family unity, plays a central role in identity formation and relational decision-making. While familialism is often linked to resilience and social support, it may also intensify psychological conflict in the context of intra-familial abuse or unsupportive disclosure responses. The present study examines whether familialism moderates the relationship between CSA severity and PTSD symptom severity among Hispanic young adults aged 18–30. Using validated self-report measures of CSA (CTQ-SF), PTSD symptoms (PCL-5), and familialism (Attitudinal Familism Scale), this cross-sectional study will employ hierarchical moderation analyses to test whether familialism alters the strength of this association. It is hypothesized that familialism will function as a conditional cultural mechanism: potentially attenuating PTSD symptoms under supportive relational conditions, but exacerbating symptoms when abuse occurs within the family or disclosure is discouraged. By centering PTSD symptom severity as the primary outcome, this study advances culturally grounded models of trauma and informs more culturally responsive approaches to assessment and intervention for Hispanic survivors of CSA.

Chronic stress can cause epigenetic age acceleration, which is a cellular indicator of premature biological aging fundamentally linked to poorer health and shorter lifespans. Due to systemic and interpersonal discrimination, defined as unfair treatment based on race or ethnicity, racial minorities face unique, persistent stressors that can trigger this premature aging. While parents frequently use ethnic-racial socialization by sharing cultural pride and preparing youth for systemic racial challenges to support their children, little research has explored whether these practices protect youth from these long-term biological harms. This study evaluates whether recollections of childhood racial socialization buffer the biological impacts of discrimination. We hypothesize that recollections of racial socialization significantly weaken the positive association between perceived discrimination and epigenetic age acceleration. To test this, we conduct a secondary data analysis using the Midlife in the United States Milwaukee African American Sample cohort. We will evaluate childhood racial socialization as a moderator between perceived racial discrimination and biological aging using ordinary least squares multiple linear regression. This study aims to clarify the biological efficacy of parental racial socialization, and to empower minority communities with actionable psychosocial strategies against systemic stress.

Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern within the United States and unequally affects children who come from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. This study examined how socioeconomic status influences childhood Body Mass Index and whether parental bonding mitigates this relationship. While previous research has established connections between social disadvantages and obesity, there is less attention to how parental bonds affect these health outcomes. This study analyzed secondary data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth Child and Young Adult cohort (2014). Moreover, indicators of socioeconomic status and parental bonding were coded from survey responses. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analyses were conducted using SPSS to examine the association between SES and BMI. Analyses are expected to reveal the relationship between socioeconomic disadvantages and higher BMI, with parental bonding potentially mitigating this association. It is hypothesized that lower SES will be associated with higher BMI, and stronger parental bonds will weaken this relationship. Findings within this research will contribute to understanding higher BMI in children and highlight the role family relationships have in health disparities. These results can be used to help set policies and interventions in place to promote lifelong healthy living.