Abstract
Law enforcement and child welfare professionals experience ongoing exposure to work-related traumatic events as a natural part of their occupation. This exposure results in a higher level of vicarious trauma in these professions. Many professionals in these professions have also experienced a statistically higher number of adverse childhood experiences. As a result, they are exposed to more cumulative trauma over time. Also associated with other high-stress and high- stakes work environments, like military service members, is moral injury. Adverse childhood experiences, vicarious trauma, and moral injury are correlated with post-traumatic stress symptoms, negative emotions and behaviors, and suicidality. This research examined the relationship between adverse childhood experiences, vicarious trauma, and moral injury in professionals serving in law enforcement and child welfare. The presence of early positive childhood experiences was considered as a buffer from these variables. The association of moral injury and cumulative trauma experiences was examined using the following measures: the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE), Vicarious Trauma Scale (VTS), Moral Injury Assessment for Public Safety Personnel (MIA-PSP), and Positive Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (PCE). Data on age, sex, type of profession, size of the organization, military service status, and total years of service experience were collected and analyzed as other potential predictor variables. Individuals currently serving as law enforcement or child welfare professionals were recruited through the distribution of online surveys, with the necessary minimum sample size being 76 participants. The results from the screening measures were analyzed utilizing a Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses to determine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences, vicarious trauma, and moral injury and how they are moderated by positive childhood experiences.
