The Relationship between Childhood Trauma, Disability and Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood among African American Male Foster Care Alumni: An Exploratory Study

Abstract The primary aim of this study was to explore the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and dimensions of emerging adulthood among African American males age 18-25 that have exited foster care. Studies have linked childhood trauma to brain development and personal safety; and others that have focused on the relationship between childhood trauma and (a) adult development; (b) adult trauma; (c) maltreatment and interpersonal trauma; and (d) psychosocial development among foster care youth. Empirical research has further discussed the impact of foster care on African Americans and African American and the impact on other issues. Foster care alumni with disabilities have lower educational attainment, lower self-esteem, and more psychiatric diagnoses than alumni without disabilities.;The relationship between the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire and the Inventory of Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA) showed significance in two IDEA subscales, specifically, Identity Exploration and Feeling "in between". There was a positive significant relationship between ACE composite scores and IDEA subscales, Identity Exploration (r =.511; p =.05) and Feeling "in between" (r =.457; p =.05).