Mihwa Gassett

Education: Majoring in Social Work and Addiction Counseling
Mentor: Jung Sim Jun, Ph.D.
Project: The Lingering Effects: Childhood Trauma, Stress, Coping, and Anxiety in Later Life

The study examined the effects of childhood trauma, perceived stress, and coping strategies on anxiety among older adults, utilizing data from the MIDUS II study with a sample of 265 participants aged 65 and older. The results showed that higher levels of emotional abuse and perceived stress were significantly associated with increased anxiety. Emotion-focused coping also contributed to higher anxiety levels. Additionally, female participants reported significantly higher anxiety than their male counterparts. The hypothesis that childhood trauma is linked to greater anxiety was partially supported, holding true only for emotional abuse. The association between perceived stress and heightened anxiety was clearly confirmed, underscoring the serious mental health consequences of stress in later life. Although problem-focused coping was negatively correlated with anxiety, hierarchical regression analysis indicated that the relationship was not statistically significant. In contrast, emotion-focused coping was a significant predictor of increased anxiety, consistent with existing research. These findings highlight the importance of addressing both childhood trauma and current stressors in older adults to support better mental health outcomes. Social workers and healthcare professionals can play a vital role by conducting comprehensive assessments, offering trauma-informed counseling, and assisting with healthcare navigation to reduce anxiety and promote adaptive coping strategies.