Positive Childhood Experiences and Adult Mental and Relational Health in a Statewide Sample

By C. Bethell, Jennifer Jones, N. Gombojav, Jeff Linkenbach, R. Sege. JAMA pediatrics, 2019

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Key Points Question Are positive childhood experiences (PCEs) associated with adult depression and/or poor mental health (D/PMH) and adult-reported social and emotional support (ARSES) independent from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)? Findings In this cross-sectional study, adults reporting higher PCEs had lower odds of D/PMH and greater ARSES after accounting for ACEs. The associations of PCEs with D/PMH also remained stable when controlling for ARSES. Meaning Positive childhood experiences demonstrate a dose-response association with adult D/PMH and ARSES after adjustment for ACEs; assessing and proactively promoting PCEs may reduce adult mental and relational health problems, even in the concurrent presence of ACEs.

Subfields: Clinical Psychology, Sociology and Political Science

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/3622b196ed81b4178efe1f3f60d2c3cba30379f4