Poster #50 - Do Global Perceptions of Childhood Happiness Moderate the Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences?

• In Event: Poster Session 18

Abstract

Background: Emerging research suggests positive childhood experiences may confer physical and mental health benefits to individuals who experience childhood adversity. Less is known about whether positive appraisals of one’s childhood may serve as a protective factor against adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The current study examines whether appraisals of childhood happiness moderate the effects of ACEs on adult physical and mental health.

Methods: The current analysis uses two waves of survey data from 971 women (Mage= 28.6, 48.1% white) who participated in the Families and Children Thriving Study, a longitudinal investigation of risk and resilience among low-income families receiving perinatal home visiting services. ACEs, childhood happiness, physical health, and mental health were measured at Wave 1 after families enrolled in services. Health and mental health were re-measured at Wave 2 approximately one year after Wave 1. Ten ACEs were measured using the Childhood Experiences Survey; cumulative scores (range 0-10) were dichotomized to differentiate participants with >5 ACEs from those with < 5 ACEs. Childhood happiness was assessed using a Likert-scale item: “I had a happy childhood” (range 1-7). Health and mental health were measured using the physical (Wave 1 & 2 α= .67) and mental health (Wave 1 α= .78; Wave 2 α= .79) subscales of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-10).

Bivariate correlations were used to explore associations between study variables. Multivariate ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analyses were conducted to test whether happiness ratings moderated the relationship between ACEs and health outcomes while controlling for maternal age, race/ethnicity, education, partner cohabitation, prior mental health treatment (for mental health models), child age, and child gender.

Results: Participants reported 3.3 ACEs on average (SD= 2.6), and nearly one-third (32.1%) reported five or more ACEs. The sample mean for happiness was 4.6 (SD=2.0), and 56.9% of respondents indicated slight to strong agreement with having a happy childhood. Exposure to five or more ACEs was negatively correlated with appraisals of happiness (r= -.47), physical health (Wave 1 r= -.19, Wave 2 r= -.21), and mental health (Wave 1 r= -.27, Wave 2 r= -.22). Higher happiness scores were positively correlated with physical health (Wave 1 r= .34, Wave 2 r= .30) and mental health (Wave 1 r= .39, Wave 2 r= .34). Regression analyses revealed that happiness ratings significantly moderated the association between ACEs and physical health (Wave 1: β= -1.59, p= .005; Wave 2: β= -1.17, p= .04) and mental health (Wave 1: β= -1.60, p= .005; Wave 2: β= -1.15, p= .048). In sum, among women who reported high levels of adversity, positive ratings of childhood happiness were associated with better physical and mental health.

Conclusion: Results indicate that associations between ACEs and health outcomes were moderated by positive childhood appraisals. These findings suggest that the effects of ACEs may be partly dependent on subjective global perceptions of childhood. Further research is needed to identify factors that are associated with positive childhood appraisals and to determine whether these appraisals can be modified to promote resilience in the face of adversity.

Group Authors

-Anthony Gómez (School of Social Welfare, UC Berkeley & The Institute for Child and Family Well-Being, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)

-Joshua P. Mersky (Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)

-ChienTi Plummer Lee (The Institute for Child and Family Well-Being, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)

Authors

• Anthony Gómez, UC Berkeley
  Presenting Author

• Joshua Mersky, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

• ChienTi Plummer Lee, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee