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. 2024 Jan;37(1):60-76.
doi: 10.1080/10615806.2023.2193888. Epub 2023 Apr 3.

Can the positive buffer the negative? Testing the impact of protective childhood experiences on adjustment in adults following trauma exposure

Tam N M Nguyen  1 , David J Disabato  1 , John Gunstad  1 , Douglas L Delahanty  1 , Richard George  2   3 , Farid Muakkassa  4 , Ali F Mallat  4 , Karin G Coifman  1
Affiliations

Can the positive buffer the negative? Testing the impact of protective childhood experiences on adjustment in adults following trauma exposure

Tam N M Nguyen et al. Anxiety Stress Coping. 2024 Jan.

Abstract

Background: It is unclear if protective childhood experiences (PCEs), like emotional support and economic stability, exert influence on adulthood adjustment. Prior research suggests PCEs can promote childhood resilience through increased social connection. In contrast, research has demonstrated potential life-long negative impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on psychological health. This study examined the role of PCEs and ACEs in psychological symptoms following potentially traumatic events (PTE) in adults.

Methods: Participants (N = 128) were adults admitted to two Level 1 Trauma Centers following violence, motor-vehicle crashes, or other accidents. Participants reported childhood experiences and completed assessments of depression, PTSD, and social support at one, four, and nine months post-PTE.

Results: Structural Equation Modeling was used to simultaneously model PCEs and ACEs as predictors of psychological symptoms over time, with potential mediation through social support. PCEs overall did not directly affect psychological symptoms nor indirectly through social support. However, the emotional support component of PCEs had an indirect effect on psychological symptoms at baseline through social support. ACEs predicted greater psychological symptoms at baseline and over time.

Conclusion: PCEs consisting of childhood emotional support indirectly promote adjustment in adults after PTEs through initial social support, while ACEs exert direct effects on psychological symptoms.

Keywords: : Childhood experiences; adult adjustment; aversive; protective; trauma.

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Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Conceptual path diagram of the theoretical models.
Figure 2:
Figure 2:
Path diagram for PCE general and ACEs from the first model. Significant effects are black with standardized regression coefficients and their 95% confidence intervals. Non-significant effects are greyed out.
Figure 3:
Figure 3:
Path diagram for the three PCE facets and ACEs from the second model. Significant effects are black with standardized regression coefficients and their 95% confidence intervals bolded. Non-significant effects are greyed out.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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