Childhood Adversity and Mental Health Outcomes: The Buffering Effect of Preventative and Compensatory Childhood Experiences

• In Event: Positive Childhood Experiences as Resilience Mechanisms Against Adverse Childhood Experiences for Adult and Intergenerational Health

Abstract

The present study examined the moderating role of childhood Protective and Compensatory Experiences (PACES) on the negative effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) on young adult mental health. The study sample included 564 (55% female, m age = 20 yrs.) undergraduates at a large Midwestern university in the United States. Simple regression analyses, with participant sex and age included as covariates, revealed ACES were significantly associated with depression (b = .89, p < .001), anxiety (b = .64, p < .001), substance use (b = .07, p = .001), difficulties in emotion regulation (b = 2.34, p < .001), resilience (b = -8.29, p < .001), hope (b = -.20, p = .007), and life stress (b = .07, p <.001). PACES were also significantly related to depression (b = -.66, p <.001), anxiety (b = -.51, p <.001), substance use (b = -.04, p = .015), difficulties in emotion regulation (b = -2.52, p <.001), resilience (b = 9.72, p <.001), hope (b = .71, p <.001), and life stress (b = -.07, p <.001). Hierarchical regression analyses indicated PACES significantly moderated the relationship between ACES and depression, such that greater PACES weakened the relationship between ACES and depression (b = -.16, t = -3.03, p = .003). Additionally, PACES significantly moderated the relationship between ACES and resilience such that greater PACES weakened the relationship between ACES and resilience (b = 1.76, t = 3.24, p = .001). PACES did not significantly moderate relationships between ACES and anxiety, emotion regulation, substance use, hope, or life stress. These findings suggest PACES can buffer the deleterious effects of ACES on depression and resilience in college students and warrant further research on the effects of cumulative adverse and protective childhood experiences. Further, these findings support the Intergenerational and Cumulative Adverse and Resilient Experiences (ICARE) model (Hays-Grudo & Morris, 2020) which posits PACES can buffer the negative effects of ACES through changes in biological and behavioral adaptations, ultimately disrupting the intergenerational transmission of ACES and their effects.

Authors

• Jens E Jespersen, Oklahoma State University - Center for Health Sciences
  Presenting Author

• Jennifer Hays-Grudo, Center for Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University

• Amanda Sheffield Morris, Oklahoma State University - Tulsa

• Erin Ratliff, Oklahoma State University - Tulsa

• Lucia Ciciolla, Oklahoma State University - Stillwater