The Moderating Role of Positive Childhood Experiences in the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Psychopathic Traits in Incarcerated Women

The relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and psychopathic traits in incarcerated women remains underexplored, despite evidence linking early adversities to problematic behaviors and criminal pathways. This study examines the association between ACEs and psychopathic traits, focusing on the moderating role of positive childhood experiences (PCEs). The sample consisted of 164 women aged 18 to 81 years (M = 38.75, SD = 11.99) who completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences scale, the Benevolent Childhood Experiences scale, and the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale – Short Form (SRP-SF). The results revealed significant correlations between ACEs and total psychopathy, lifestyle, and antisocial factors. Physical abuse, physical neglect, and exposure to domestic violence (DV) were also significantly correlated with psychopathic traits. PCEs moderated the association between sexual abuse and the affective and antisocial factors of psychopathy, as well as overall psychopathy scores. They also moderated the relationship between exposure to DV and both the affective factor and total psychopathy. Furthermore, PCEs moderated the association between having an incarcerated family member and all psychopathy factors. These findings highlight the protective role of PCEs in mitigating the impact of some ACEs on psychopathy, reinforcing the need for trauma-informed interventions in forensic settings. Implementing attachment-based and resilience-building programs could help reduce the long-term consequences of childhood adversities in incarcerated women.