Study: Positive Childhood Experiences and Adult Health Outcomes

A new study of more than 7,400 adults sheds light on how impactful positive childhood experiences can be for adults and their overall health. The nationally representative study “Positive Childhood Experiences and Adult Health Outcomes,” featured in the July 2023 issue of Pediatrics (published online June 20), explains that even with the presence of adverse childhood experiences, nurturing relationships and environments during childhood are independently associated with improved health status and reduced mental or physical health condition risks. Compared to those with 0-2 positive experiences, adults with five or six positive childhood experiences had 24.6% lower risk of reporting fair or poor health status and 26% lower risk of reporting any psychiatric diagnosis, after controlling for adverse childhood experiences. In contrast, reporting three or more adverse childhood experiences was associated with a 35.1% greater hazard of developing any physical condition, 47.2% greater hazard of developing any psychiatric condition, and a 41.5% greater hazard of developing any physical or psychiatric condition in a given year. Authors of the study say the findings suggest positive childhood experiences play a role in enhancing health resilience by promoting healthy outcomes, while also protecting from poor mental and physical health conditions. They add that interventions that foster positive parent-child relationships, social engagement in school, and neighborhood social cohesion may improve health throughout life. Curbing the number of stressful and potentially traumatic events and family challenges occurring before adulthood should also be an area of focus. 

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.