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Positive Childhood Experiences Associate with Adult Flourishing Amidst Adversity: A Cross Sectional Survey Study with a National Sample of Young Adults

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  • Zhiyuan Yu

    (School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Lin Wang

    (School of Nursing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China)

  • Wenyi Chen

    (School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Juan Zhang

    (International Peace Maternity and Children Hospital of China Welfare Institution, Departments of Nursing, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China)

  • Amie F. Bettencourt

    (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of PCEs among young adults in Mainland China and the extent to which the cumulative number of PCEs moderates the associations between ACEs and flourishing in adulthood. Between August and November 2020, we used convenience and snowball sampling to recruit 9468 young adults, ages 18–35, enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs at universities in Mainland China to participate in a survey, which included measures on flourishing, exposure to ACEs and PCEs, and demographic characteristics. Approximately 92% of participants reported experiencing seven to nine PCEs, with harmonious family relationships (96.9%), feeling supported by friends (96.8%) and being treated fairly at school (96.3%) being the most common PCEs reported. Results of the multiple regression indicated that the cumulative number of PCEs statistically significantly moderated the relation between the cumulative number of ACEs and flourishing (interaction term b = −0.060 [−0.071, −0.049], p < 0.001, adjusted R 2 = 0.183); as the number of ACEs increased up through eight ACEs, decreases in flourishing were smaller among those with higher numbers of PCEs. PCEs are common among young adults from Mainland China and serve a potential buffering effect against exposure to ACEs.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhiyuan Yu & Lin Wang & Wenyi Chen & Juan Zhang & Amie F. Bettencourt, 2022. "Positive Childhood Experiences Associate with Adult Flourishing Amidst Adversity: A Cross Sectional Survey Study with a National Sample of Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:22:p:14956-:d:971644
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Li, Bingbing & Pan, Yangu & Liu, Guangzeng & Chen, Wanfen & Lu, Jiamei & Li, Xu, 2020. "Perceived social support and self-esteem mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and psychosocial flourishing in Chinese undergraduate students," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    2. Merrick, Jillian S. & Narayan, Angela J. & Atzl, Victoria M. & Harris, William W. & Lieberman, Alicia F., 2020. "Type versus timing of adverse and benevolent childhood experiences for pregnant women’s psychological and reproductive health," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    3. Chen, Ying & Kubzansky, Laura D. & VanderWeele, Tyler J., 2019. "Parental warmth and flourishing in mid-life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 65-72.
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    Cited by:

    1. Krista P. Woodward & Zhiyuan Yu & Wenyi Chen & Tingting Chen & Dylan B. Jackson & Terrinieka W. Powell & Lin Wang, 2023. "Childhood Bereavement, Adverse and Positive Childhood Experiences, and Flourishing among Chinese Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, March.

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