The influence of adverse and advantageous childhood experiences during adolescence on young adult health

"Is there anything else you would like me to know?": Applying a trauma-informed approach to the administration of the adverse childhood experiences questionnaire

Nearly ubiquitous agreement exists regarding the potentially negative impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on health and well-being across the lifespan. This has propelled a movement across the nation for consistent screening of ACEs. Despite agreement regarding the consequences of ACEs, little research related specifically to the administration of the ACE questionnaire exists. Using data from a mixed-methods study of first-time mothers as means of illustration, this paper examines shortcomings of the ACE questionnaire. Participant responses revealed ambiguity with item structure, limited breadth of included events, and failure to capture the gravity of the experience. These shortcomings underscore inadequacies of the measure in accurately understanding individuals' lived experiences and call for the application of trauma-informed (TI) values, both in its content and administration. We apply the main tenets of a TI framework to the ACE questionnaire and make recommendations for its administration, translating theoretical underpinnings of a TI approach into action.

Adverse and Benevolent Childhood Experiences Predict Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poorer adult mental health, and benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) are associated with better adult mental health. This study aims to test whether ACEs and BCEs predict adult mental health above and beyond current stress and social support during the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed data from undergraduate and graduate students (N = 502) at an urban private university in the Western United States. An online survey was conducted to assess ACEs and BCEs, current stress and social support, depressive and anxiety symptoms, perceived stress, and loneliness in May 2020. Higher levels of ACEs were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, β = 0.45, p = 0.002. Higher levels of BCEs were associated with lower depressive symptoms, β = −0.39, p = 0.03; lower perceived stress, β = −0.26, p = 0.002; and less loneliness, β = −0.12, p = 0.04. These associations held while controlling for current stress, social support, and socioeconomic status. Childhood experiences are associated with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. BCEs should be considered an important promotive factor, independent of ACEs, for psychological well-being during a global public health crisis. BCEs should be included along with ACEs in future research, assessment, and screening with distressed and vulnerable populations.

Self-Regulation and Shame as Mediators Between Childhood Experiences and Young Adult Health

The purpose of this study was to determine whether self-regulation and shame mediated the relationship between adverse and positive childhood experiences (ACEs and PCEs) and young adult health. Data came from the Flourishing Families Project (FFP), a 10-year longitudinal study. Adolescent participants (N = 489; 51% female) completed an annual survey. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results indicated that PCEs negatively predicted shame and positively predicted self-regulation while ACEs negatively predicted self-regulation. Shame mediated the relationship between PCEs and depression. Self-regulation mediated the relationship between both ACEs and PCEs with anxiety; self-regulation also mediated the relationship between ACEs and substance abuse. Childhood experiences appear to affect the development and maintenance of self-regulation in adolescence. Self-regulation appears to be especially important in protecting against depression, anxiety, and substance abuse in young adulthood.

Effects of positive and negative childhood experiences on adult family health

BACKGROUND

The objective of the study was to determine the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) with family health in adulthood. Prior research indicates that ACEs and PCEs affect individual physical and mental health in adulthood. However, little is known about how ACEs and PCEs affect family health. Families develop and function through patterns and routines which are often intergenerational. Therefore, a person's early experiences may influence their family's health in adulthood.

METHOD

A survey was administered to 1030 adults through Qualtrics, with participants recruited using quota-sampling to reflect the demographic characteristics of U.S. adults. Participants completed a survey about their childhood experiences, four domains of family health (family social and emotional health processes, family healthy lifestyle, family health resources, and family external social supports), and demographic characteristics. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

After controlling for marriage, education, gender, race and age, ACEs were negatively associated with family social and emotional health processes and family health resources when accounting for PCEs; PCEs were positively associated with all four family health domains irrespective of ACEs.

CONCLUSION

Childhood experiences affect family health in adulthood in the expected direction. Even in the presence of early adversity, positive experiences in childhood can provide a foundation for creating better family health in adulthood.

Passion and Persistence: Investigating the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Grit in College Students in China

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to have deleterious effects on individuals across the life span, but less is known about how they affect grit, a strong predictor of achievements and well-being. This study seeks to investigate the effect of ACEs on grit in a sample of Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from 1,871 students across 12 universities in China. Findings indicated a significant effect of ACEs on grit, particularly abuse and neglect dimensions of ACE. Since grit is particularly important for professional success, those who have experienced abuse and neglect victimization may struggle throughout their education, and subsequently, in their careers. This calls for interventions to buffer the effects of ACEs on grit.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Psychological Well-Being in Chinese College Students: Mediation Effect of Mindfulness

Literature on the antecedents of psychological well-being (PWB) has found that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and mindfulness are associated with PWB; less is known, however, about the role of mindfulness, a type of emotional and self-regulation, in the pathway between ACEs and PWB. This study used data from 1871 college students across China to examine the relation between ACEs and PWB, and whether the relation was mediated by mindfulness. The findings from structural equation modelling indicate a statistically significant negative association between ACEs and PWB, while mindfulness was strongly and positively associated with PWB. The effect of ACEs on PWB was reduced once mindfulness was controlled for in the analysis. This provides evidence that mindfulness was able to partially mediate the effects of negative life experiences on psychological well-being. This calls for mindfulness interventions targeted toward students with a history of ACEs to buffer the effects of ACEs on PWB.

Adverse and Benevolent Childhood Experiences Predict Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poorer adult mental health, and benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) are associated with better adult mental health. This study aims to test whether ACEs and BCEs predict adult mental health above and beyond current stress and social support during the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed data from undergraduate and graduate students (N = 502) at an urban private university in the Western United States. An online survey was conducted to assess ACEs and BCEs, current stress and social support, depressive and anxiety symptoms, perceived stress, and loneliness in May 2020. Higher levels of ACEs were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, β = 0.45, p = 0.002. Higher levels of BCEs were associated with lower depressive symptoms, β = -0.39, p = 0.03; lower perceived stress, β = -0.26, p = 0.002; and less loneliness, β = -0.12, p = 0.04. These associations held while controlling for current stress, social support, and socioeconomic status. Childhood experiences are associated with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. BCEs should be considered an important promotive factor, independent of ACEs, for psychological well-being during a global public health crisis. BCEs should be included along with ACEs in future research, assessment, and screening with distressed and vulnerable populations.

The validity and reliability of benevolent childhood experiences scale in Chinese community adults

BACKGROUND

Several studies have indicated that positive childhood experiences (PCEs) might have important protective effects on adulthood mental health. However, the instruments to assess PCEs are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we assessed the validity and reliability of the Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) scale, a new instrument of PCEs, in a large sample of Chinese adults. Furthermore, we examined associations of PCEs with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, as well as, prosocial behaviours across different levels of trauma.

METHOD

Participants were 6929 adults (33% male; mean age 38.04 years, SD = 7.81, ranging from 18 to 81.) recruited from Jiangxi and Hunan provinces in China. Self-administrated questionnaires were used to measure PCEs, childhood trauma, lifetime trauma, PTSD, depression, and prosocial behaviours. Multiple linear regression models were conducted to examine the interdependent and interactive effects of PCEs, lifetime trauma, childhood trauma on symptoms of PTSD and depression and prosocial behaviours.

RESULTS

In the current sample, the Cronbach's α of the BCEs scale was 0.70. PCEs were not related to lifetime trauma, while modestly associated with childhood trauma, demonstrating excellent discriminant validity. PCEs were negatively correlated with severity of PTSD and depression, while positively correlated with prosocial behaviours, indicating good predictive validity. PCEs, lifetime trauma and childhood trauma were independently associated with severity of PTSD and depression and prosocial behaviours. Moreover, the interaction of PCEs and lifetime trauma negatively predicted severity of PTSD and depression, while the interaction of PCEs and childhood trauma negatively predicted prosocial behaviours. PCEs had a protective effect on PTSD and depression in high level of lifetime trauma, and showed a reduced positive effect on prosocial behaviours in high level of childhood trauma.

CONCLUSIONS

The Chinese BCEs scale is a reliable and valid instrument. PCEs can buffer adversity and foster positive outcomes in adulthood.