Contextual protective factors for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): potential avenues for intervention

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are both prevalent and harmful throughout the lifespan. More recently, researchers have begun to explore the potential mitigating or moderating effects of protective factors, mainly by examining Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs). However, the protective factors explored have largely focused on positive experiences in childhood or aspects of the individual or their family that might buffer ACEs, ignoring the larger contextual settings in which individuals develop over time. This study examined if contextual protective factors such as sense of community and perceived adequacy of resources contribute to college students' (n=523) anxiety and depression symptoms over and above the impact of ACEs and BCEs. Results revealed that ACEs were negatively related to BCEs, sense of community, and perceived adequacy of resources, while positively related to anxiety and depression symptoms. Hierarchical regression analyses found that both ACEs and BCEs predicted anxiety and depression symptoms, and when sense of community and perceived adequacy of resources were added to the model, it explained more of the variance and perceived adequacy of resources was a significant predictor over and above ACEs and BCEs. The results imply that adequate access to resources should be considered when designing interventions for adults with a history of ACEs.