Associations of Adverse and Positive Childhood Experiences with Transdiagnostic Risk Factors for Mental Health Problems in Black American Adults

Abstract

Childhood experiences, both adverse and positive, influence mental health outcomes in adulthood. This study examined the prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) among a sample of Black Americans (N = 999, M = 45.6 years, SD = 17.16 years, range = 18–82 years) and investigated how ACEs, PCEs, and their interaction were each associated with key transdiagnostic factors known to underlie mental health problems: emotion dysregulation, distress tolerance, and anxiety sensitivity in adulthood. Participants completed the ACEs scale, Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) scale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-short form, Distress Tolerance Scale-short form, and Short Scale Anxiety Sensitivity Index. Participants reported moderate ACEs (M = 2.97) and relatively high BCEs (M = 8.44). Results revealed that ACEs and BCEs were inversely but only modestly associated. In linear regressions that accounted for both ACEs and BCEs together, higher ACEs were associated with higher levels of emotion dysregulation and anxiety sensitivity and lower levels of distress tolerance. Meanwhile, higher BCEs were associated with lower emotion dysregulation and anxiety sensitivity and higher distress tolerance. While the interaction between ACEs and BCEs was not significant for any outcome, post hoc exploratory tests showed cohort effects by stage of adulthood for ACEs, PCEs, and outcomes. Findings indicate that many individuals have at least some of both types of experiences, and both types of experiences directly associate with each outcome. Findings highlight the importance of both ACEs and PCEs for psychosocial functioning and the mental health of Black American adults.