The Invisible Co-Worker Among Us: Understanding Childhood Trauma and Workplace Well-Being

Abstract

This work intended to investigate potential correlations between past experienced personal trauma to the everyday experience of workplace well-being. The authors explored traumatic childhood stories using the Philadelphia extended version of the original Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) survey. Connections to these experiences were sought in a broad range of populations using snowball sampling. Participants (N = 406) were asked to answer the ACEs survey and questions on their current perception of workplace well-being using the Eudaimonic Workplace Well-Being Scale (EWWS). Results indicated a strong correlation that was statistically significant. An increase in the number of ACEs aligned with a lower perception of well-being within the workplace. This is the first study of its kind to connect clinical childhood trauma  experience with current adult workplace experience of well-being. Findings suggest enhanced focus should be placed on engaged awareness and action-oriented treatment of mental health in the workplace.