TY - JOUR PY - 2020// TI - The influence of adverse and advantageous childhood experiences during adolescence on young adult health JO - Child abuse and neglect A1 - Crandall, AliceAnn A1 - Broadbent, Eliza A1 - Stanfill, Melissa A1 - Magnusson, Brianna M. A1 - Novilla, M. Lelinneth B. A1 - Hanson, Carl L. A1 - Barnes, Michael D. SP - e104644 EP - e104644 VL - 108 IS - N2 - BACKGROUND: Research indicates that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can lead to poorer adult health, but less is known how advantageous childhood experiences (counter-ACEs) may neutralize the negative effects of ACEs, particularly in young adulthood. PURPOSE: We examined the independent contributions of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Advantageous Childhood Experiences (counter-ACEs) that occur during adolescence on five young adult health indicators: depression, anxiety, risky sexual behaviors, substance abuse, and positive body image. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The sample included 489 adolescents from a large northwestern city in the United States who were 10-13 years at baseline (51 % female). METHODS: Flourishing Families Project survey data were used for this secondary analysis using structural equation modeling. Adolescents and their parents completed an annual survey. ACEs and counter-ACEs were measured over the first five years of the study. The five health indicators were measured in wave 10 when participants were 20-23 years old. RESULTS: Participants had on average 2.7 ACEs and 8.2 counter-ACEs. When both ACEs and counter-ACEs were included in the model, ACEs were not predictive of any of the health indicators and counter-ACEs were predictive of less risky sex (-.12, p <.05), substance abuse (-.12, p <.05), depression (-.11, p <.05), and a more positive body image (.15, p <.01). Higher ratios of counter-ACEs to ACEs had a particularly strong effect on improved young adult health. CONCLUSIONS: Counter-ACEs that occur in adolescence may diminish the negative effects of ACEs on young adult health and independently contribute to better health.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0145-2134 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104644 ID - ref1 ER -