Positive childhood experiences and adult cardiovascular health

To test whether positive childhood experiences (PCEs) assessed prospectively in adolescence predict ideal cardiovascular health in adulthood, even after controlling for experiences of childhood maltreatment. We also tested whether PCEs would moderate the association between childhood maltreatment and adult cardiovascular health and whether sex moderated the association between PCEs and cardiovascular health.

Data originated from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), a nationally representative longitudinal study in the United States (n = 2,916). Using data from the Wave 1 adolescent assessment (Mage = 15.70 years, 1994-1995), a 12-item index of cumulative self-reported PCEs (e.g., stable caregiver, adult mentor, one good friend, enjoyed school, good neighbors) was created. Childhood maltreatment experiences were self-reported at Wave 3 (Mage = 22.06 years, 2001-2002) and Wave 4 (Mage = 28.53 years, 2008). An ideal cardiovascular health score was calculated in Wave 5 (Mage = 37.47 years, 2016-2018) using the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 cardiovascular health index.

Greater PCEs predicted more ideal cardiovascular health (β = .13, p < .001), and greater childhood maltreatment predicted less ideal cardiovascular health in adulthood (β = -.12, p < .001). PCEs did not moderate the association between childhood maltreatment and adult cardiovascular health. Sex moderated the association between PCEs and adult cardiovascular health (β = .09, p = .042), such that the association was stronger for female (β = .20, p < .001) than male (β = .08, p = .073).

The finding that PCEs prospectively predict more ideal cardiovascular health in adulthood beyond the effect of childhood maltreatment suggests that promoting PCEs should be tested as part of interventions to prevent adult cardiovascular disease. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).