ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AS PREDICTORS OF BURNOUT AMONG OGUN STATE ROAD SAFETY PERSONNEL: MEDIATING ROLE OF EMOTIONAL SELF-REGULATION

Abstract

This study explored the predictive role of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on burnout among Ogun State Road Safety personnel. It further examined the mediating role of emotional self-regulation. Grounded in Maslach’s Burnout Theory, Gross’s Process Model of Emotion Regulation, and Developmental Trauma Theory, the study employed correlational design. A total of 249 personnel (67.1% male; aged 20–58 years, M = 37.17, SD = 7.96) were selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using three validated instruments: The Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ), the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire–Short Form (ERQ-S), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). Descriptive statistics showed that 27.7% of participants reported low burnout, 61.0% moderate burnout, and 17.3% high burnout. Simple linear regression revealed that ACEs significantly predicted burnout, B = 2.65, p < .001, R² = .091, highlighting that higher exposure to childhood adversity was linked with increased symptoms of burnout. Although, mediation analysis using Hayes’ PROCESS macro (Model 4) showed that emotional self-regulation did not significantly mediate the effect of ACEs on burnout, indirect effect = 0.13, 95% CI [–0.10, 0.40], as the confidence interval included zero. However, emotional self-regulation significantly predicted burnout, B = –0.43, p < .001, ACEs did not significantly predict emotional self-regulation, B = –0.31, p =. 238.These findings underscore the independent influence of ACEs and emotional self-regulation on burnout. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the Federal Road Safety Corps implement targeted mental health awareness initiatives to help personnel recognise and manage burnout, particularly among those with higher exposure to adverse childhood experiences.