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 Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) like abuse, neglect, violence,
and parental absence have long been linked to lasting negative
effects on physical and mental health, researchers note in JAMA
Pediatrics. But less is known about whether positive experiences
make it easier for kids to cope, or what happens with children whose
lives have mix of negative and positive experiences
For the current study, researchers surveyed 6,118 adults about how
often in childhood they felt able to talk to family and friends
about feelings; felt their family stood by them during difficult
times; enjoyed participating in community traditions; felt a sense
of belonging in high school; felt supported by friends; had at least
two nonparent adults who took an interest in them; and felt safe and
protected by an adult in their home.
Overall, adults who reported six to seven of these positive
childhood experiences were 72% less likely to have depression or at
least 14 poor mental health days each month than adults who reported
no more than two positive childhood experiences. Even three to five
positive experiences were tied to a 50% lower likelihood of
depression or poor mental health than two or fewer.
These associations held true even when respondents reported multiple
adverse childhood experiences.
"The absence of the types of positive childhood experiences we
assessed in our study is very stressful for a child," said lead
study author Christina Bethell of the Bloomberg School of Public
Health at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
"Without positive nurturance, children's stress hormones can get
stuck on high and this impacts how their brain develops in ways that
can make it hard for them to experience safety, relaxation and to
become open, curious and learn to have positive relationships with
others," Bethell said by email.
The association between positive life experiences and better adult
mental health and relationships persisted even among people who
experienced ACEs during childhood.
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Compared to participants who reported no more than two positive
childhood experiences, people who experienced six to seven positive
childhood experiences were also more than three times more likely to
report that as adults, they "always" got the social and emotional
support they needed.
When people had no more than two positive childhood experiences,
only about one-third reported always getting the social and
emotional support they needed - even when they didn't have a history
of ACEs.
The study doesn't prove that positive childhood experiences impact
adult mental health or relationships.
"In fact, people with poor mental health might be less likely to
view their childhood experiences as positive," said Dr. Rebecca
Dudovitz, a researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the
University of California Los Angeles.
"It might actually be that adults with depression remember their
childhood differently than adults without depression," Dudovitz, who
wasn't involved in the study, said by email.
Parents may not be able to prevent adverse childhood experiences,
but they can help kids become resilient, said Dr. Angelica Robles, a
developmental-behavioral pediatrician at Novant Health in Charlotte,
North Carolina, who wasn't involved in the study.
"Parents can accomplish this by simply talking about feelings with
their children, standing by their children during difficult times,
and showing interest in their daily lives," Robles said by email.
"The child will then feel safe, and it is in this sense of security
in the face of stress that the child learns to flourish."
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