Positive Childhood Experiences and adult health outcomes
From a study published in Pediatrics
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can affect your health and well-being as an adult. ACEs include things like abuse, neglect, violence, bullying, or discrimination. Studies have shown that people who have more ACEs are more likely to have mental and physical health problems later in life.
But what about the good childhood experiences? Can they also influence your health and well-being in a positive way? Could they counter the effect of ACEs? Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) include:
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Ability to confide in parents
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Parents understand their problems
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A positive relationship with parents
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Being happy at school
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Being comfortable around a group of friends
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Having neighbourhood support
Researchers have recently started to explore how PCEs can protect you from the negative effects of ACEs and also promote healthy outcomes on their own.
A new study looked at the link between PCEs and adult health outcomes in a large and diverse dataset - a nationally representative study that has been following thousands of families in the USA since 1968.
The researchers asked the participants to answer questions about their PCEs and ACEs when they were growing up. They also asked them about their current health status, including their overall health, mental health, and any physical or mental health conditions they had. They then analysed the data to see how PCEs and ACEs were related to adult health outcomes.
The main findings of the study were:
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PCEs were associated with better adult health outcomes, independent of ACEs. This means that having more PCEs was linked to lower risks of having fair or poor overall health, any psychiatric diagnosis, or any physical or mental health condition.
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ACEs were associated with worse adult health outcomes, independent of PCEs. This means that having more ACEs was linked to higher risks of having fair or poor overall health, any psychiatric diagnosis, or any physical or mental health condition.
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PCEs and ACEs had a combined effect on adult health outcomes. This means that having more PCEs and fewer ACEs was associated with the best health outcomes, while having fewer PCEs and more ACEs was associated with the worst health outcomes.
The researchers concluded that PCEs can have a protective role in enhancing health resilience by promoting healthy outcomes and also by reducing the negative impact of ACEs. They suggested that policies and interventions that increase PCEs and decrease ACEs can improve the health and well-being of children and adults.
This study shows that good childhood experiences can have a lasting positive effect on your health and happiness as an adult. It also shows that bad childhood experiences can have a lasting negative effect on your health and happiness as an adult. But it also shows that you are not doomed by your past. You can still overcome the challenges of your childhood by building on your strengths and finding support from others.
If you are a parent, you can help your child have more PCEs by providing them with love, understanding, guidance, and encouragement. You can also help them find positive activities, friends, mentors, and environments that make them feel happy, safe, and valued. You can also protect them from ACEs by creating a stable and nurturing home environment, seeking help for any family problems, and advocating for their rights and needs.
If you are an adult who had a difficult childhood, you can still find ways to heal from your past and improve your present and future. You can seek professional help for any mental or physical health issues you may have. You can also find positive relationships, hobbies, goals, and communities that give you joy, meaning, and purpose. You can also recognize and appreciate the PCEs you did have or still have in your life.
Remember that your childhood does not define you. You can always grow from your experiences and create a healthier and happier life for yourself and others.
Read the full study here.
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From a study published in Pediatrics, 01/11/2023