Research has established a link between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and mental health difficulties across the lifespan. This includes recent research that linked ACEs to lower hope in adulthood. To better understand the link between ACEs and lower hope, the current study tested a model, based in both attachment and hope theory, of ACEs as a driver of lower hope via lower attachment security as a mediator. To test the theorized linear relationship between variables, among a sample of U.S. adults (N’ = 293), the study employed established measures of ACEs, attachment style, and hope. A 3 variable path model with full mediation model was hypothesized, with ACEs driving lower attachment security that is linked to lower hope. The model was tested with structural equation modeling (SEM). The results indicated the theory proposed full mediation model fit the data well (Χ² = 102.0, df = 52; p < .001; RMSEA = .057 [90% CI: .041, .074]; CFI: .96; SRMR: .053), with the model indicating ACEs drove attachment insecurity (R² = .125) that generated lower hope (R² = .208). A subsequent bootstrapping analysis (n = 5,000) validated the full mediation model. Multigroup analyses also indicated the model was stable across demographic groups. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the results, including how the data suggests a need for further research into interventions for ACE survivors to promote attachment security and hope.

研究已经在童年时期的不良经历 (ACE) 和整个生命周期的心理健康困难之间建立了联系。这包括最近将 ACE 与降低成年期希望联系起来的研究。为了更好地理解 ACE 与较低希望之间的联系，当前的研究测试了一个基于依恋和希望理论的模型，该模型通过较低的依恋安全性作为中介，将 ACE 作为较低希望的驱动因素。为了检验美国成年人样本中变量之间的理论线性关系 ( N' = 293)，该研究采用既定的 ACE、依恋风格和希望的措施。假设了一个具有完整中介模型的 3 变量路径模型，ACE 驱动与较低希望相关的较低依恋安全性。该模型通过结构方程模型 (SEM) 进行了测试。结果表明，理论提出的完全中介模型与数据拟合良好（Χ ²  = 102.0，d f  = 52；p  < .001；RMSEA = .057 [90% CI：.041，.074]；CFI：.96； SRMR：0.053），模型表明 ACE 导致依恋不安全感（R ²  = .125），产生较低的希望（R ² = .208）。随后的引导分析 (n = 5,000) 验证了完整的中介模型。多组分析还表明该模型在人口统计组中是稳定的。论文最后讨论了结果的影响，包括数据如何表明需要进一步研究 ACE 幸存者的干预措施，以促进依恋安全性和希望。