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Early Adverse Childhood Experiences and Positive Functioning during Adolescence
Hayley Pierce1, Melissa S Jones2, Hannah Shoaf2
1Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University, 2036 JFSB, Provo, UT, 84602, USA. Hayley_pierce@byu.edu.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence
|January 2, 2023
Summary
Early adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) negatively impact adolescent positive functioning, affecting perseverance, optimism, connectedness, and happiness. Addressing ACEs is crucial for lifelong well-being and equitable life chances.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are linked to negative developmental outcomes.
- Positive functioning, encompassing engagement, perseverance, optimism, connectedness, and happiness, is crucial for pro-social behavior and adult life chances.
- The association between early ACEs and positive functioning in adolescence requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between early cumulative, timing, and duration of ACEs and adolescent positive functioning.
- To understand how early adversity influences the development of pro-social behaviors in youth.
- To identify potential protective factors and intervention points for mitigating lifelong disadvantages.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) with 3444 urban youth.
- Analyzed the association between early ACE exposure (by age five) and adolescent positive functioning at age 15.
- Controlled for more recent ACEs to isolate the impact of early adversity.
Main Results:
- Approximately 88% of youth experienced at least one ACE by age five.
- Cumulative, timing, and duration of early ACEs were significantly related to overall adolescent positive functioning.
- Specific domains affected included perseverance, optimism, connectedness, and happiness, even after controlling for recent ACEs.
Conclusions:
- Very early ACEs have a critical and lasting impact on youth positive functioning, potentially leading to future disadvantages.
- Positive functioning can act as a buffer against the negative effects of adversity.
- Family support and ACEs prevention are vital for promoting equitable life chances and preventing lifelong adversity.
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