The relationships of adverse childhood experiences, recent negative events, past time perspective, and posttraumatic stress symptoms among emerging adults.

Abstract

Objective: Past time perspective reflects concentration on past events and situations, which could affect the relationship between past adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Thus, this study aimed to examine the mediating role of past time perspective as moderated by recent negative events in the link between ACEs and PTSS among emerging adults.

Method: Using a longitudinal research design in the Chinese college population (n = 585, 18-25 years, 73.5% females), the study investigated (a) the mediating role of past time perspectives in the ACEs-PTSS link and (b) the moderating effects of negative life events in the ACEs-PTSS link via past time perspectives.

Results: ACEs were positively associated with PTSS via higher past negative time perspectives and that negative life events moderated both the direct effect of ACE on PTSS and its mediation effect via past negative time perspectives. Specifically, individuals with higher levels of negative life events have a stronger direct effect of ACEs on PTSS but less indirect effect of ACEs on PTSS through past negative time perspectives.

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the importance of examining both the mediating and moderating mechanisms that underlie the relationship between ACEs and PTSS. Such knowledge can inform interventions that target individuals under different stress levels to prevent PTSS. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).