Positive childhood experiences: how they protect adult mental health
Social ConnectionKey points
- 6 to 7 positive experiences: 72% lower odds of depression or poor mental health.
- The effect is dose-dependent.
- It protects even when adverse events also occurred.
- Examples: family standing by you in hard times, feeling safe at home, support from a non-parent adult.
What the research shows
In a study of 6,188 adults in Wisconsin, Christina Bethell and colleagues measured seven positive childhood experiences. Adults who reported 6 or 7 had 72% lower odds of depression or poor mental health than those who reported 0 to 2, and were more likely to report having the social and emotional support they needed. The association was dose-dependent and held after accounting for adverse childhood experiences (Bethell et al., 2019).
Resilience is common after adversity, and supportive relationships are a key reason (Bonanno, 2004).
What parents and other adults can do
- Talk with children about feelings and listen.
- Stand by them in difficult times.
- Share family and community traditions.
- Have regular family meals, which are linked to better nutrition (Hammons & Fiese, 2011).
- Be one of the caring non-parent adults in a child’s life: a coach, teacher, neighbor or mentor.
Frequently asked questions
What are the seven positive childhood experiences?
Being able to talk to family about feelings, feeling family stood by you during hard times, enjoying community traditions, feeling a sense of belonging in high school, feeling supported by friends, having at least two non-parent adults who took a genuine interest in you, and feeling safe and protected by an adult at home.
Is it too late if my child has had hard experiences?
No. Positive experiences protect even alongside adverse ones.
Sources
- Bethell et al. (2019). Positive Childhood Experiences and Adult Mental and Relational Health in a Statewide Sample. JAMA Pediatrics 173(11):e193007. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.3007
- Hammons et al. (2011). Is Frequency of Shared Family Meals Related to the Nutritional Health of Children and Adolescents?. Pediatrics 127(6):e1565-e1574. doi:10.1542/peds.2010-1440
- Bonanno (2004). Loss, Trauma, and Human Resilience: Have We Underestimated the Human Capacity to Thrive After Extremely Aversive Events?. American Psychologist 59(1):20-28. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.59.1.20
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