Positive Childhood Experiences and Adolescent Cognitive Outcomes in Rural Malawi

• In Event: Fostering Positive Adolescent Development: International Perspectives

Abstract

Early experiences play a significant role in shaping individuals’ development. Existing research has heavily focused on the negative impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), however, few studies took on the opposite narrative and examined how positive childhood experiences (PCEs) could impact developmental outcomes, even fewer in the global South context. This paper explored the longitudinal associations between positive childhood experiences (PCEs) and adolescents’ cognitive development in rural Malawi. Results show that earlier PCEs are significantly associated with cognitive outcomes in literacy and math among adolescents, across different caregiver education levels. The finding suggests that PCEs could be a potential predictor of adolescent cognitive development in a rural, low-income country context.

Authors

• Yang Rui, University of Pennsylvania

• Rachel Kidman, Stony Brook University - SUNY

• Hans-Peter Kohler, University of Pennsylvania