Skip to main content

Positive Childhood Experiences May Cut Risk for Adult Health Problems

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, June 20, 2023 -- Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) are independently associated with reduced risks for fair or poor adult health and adult mental health problems, according to a study published online June 20 in Pediatrics.

Cher X. Huang, M.D., from the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues examined the associations between PCE score and adult self-rated health or condition diagnosis, with and without adjustment for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

The researchers found that compared with adults with zero to two PCEs, those with five to six PCEs had 75 and 74 percent of the risk for fair/poor overall health and for any psychiatric diagnosis, respectively, independent of ACEs. The annual hazard of developing any adult psychiatric or physical condition was lower in association with reporting five to six PCEs and higher with reporting three or more ACEs in survival analysis models accounting for PCEs and ACEs (hazard ratios, 0.84 and 1.42, respectively).

"Our findings suggest that PCEs play a role in enhancing health resilience, promoting healthy outcomes while also protecting from poor mental and physical health conditions," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text

Editorial

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Teen Smartphone Use Positively Tied to Mood

THURSDAY, May 30, 2024 -- Adolescent smartphone use is positively associated with mood, according to a study published online May 29 in PLOS ONE. Matt Minich, Ph.D., and...

Some Healthy Teens Are Given Cannabidiol for Health Reasons

THURSDAY, May 30, 2024 -- About 3 percent of healthy adolescents are given commercial cannabidiol (CBD) for health reasons, according to a study published online May 7 in Cannabis...

Short Sleep Duration Throughout Childhood Tied to Psychosis Risk in Young Adulthood

WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2024 -- Persistent shorter sleep duration across childhood may be a risk factor for subsequent psychosis in young adulthood, according to a study published...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.