Findings demonstrate that the protective impact of positive childhood experiences may offset the impact of adverse events.
Adverse childhood experiences are a known risk factor for mental health concerns and social adversity later in life, however less is known about the possible influence of positive early life experiences. Researchers in the US piloted a new measure – the Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) scale, designed to assess positive early life experiences in adults with histories of childhood maltreatment and other adversities. Participants were 101 pregnant women, representing a broad range of ethnic groups. Participants completed both the BCEs and Adverse Childhood Experiences scales and a range of other measures relating to prenatal and broader life stress. Higher levels of positive childhood experiences predicted less mental health concerns and less prenatal stress, above and beyond that apparent influence of adverse experiences.
The study highlights the importance of considering favourable childhood experiences as well as adversity when considering prenatal histories, and of identifying health-promoting childhood influences which may serve to offset the typically negative effects of early adverse life experiences and increase the odds of intergenerational trajectories of resilience in mothers and babies.
doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.09.022
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