Positive Childhood Experiences and Flourishing Among Young Adults in China: Does Emotion Regulation Explain Associations?

Abstract

Positive childhood experiences (PCEs), such as supportive relationships and household routines, promote and protect well-being in later life. However, the mechanisms through which PCEs act remain unclear. This study examines whether emotion regulation mediates the association between PCEs and flourishing in a large sample of Chinese young adults. Data were collected from 9468 Chinese university students via online surveys (August-November 2020). Measures included the Chinese versions of the PCE Scale, Flourishing Measure (which characterized point-in-time flourishing and secure flourishing over an extended period), and Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (which assessed cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression). Bivariate Pearson correlations assessed associations, and mediation analysis was conducted using the PROCESS procedure in SPSS 4.1. Experiencing more PCEs was correlated with greater cognitive reappraisal (r = 0.28, p < 0.01), lower expressive suppression (r = -0.11, p < 0.01), and greater flourishing (r = 0.49, p < 0.01). Cognitive reappraisal was correlated with greater flourishing (r = 0.43, p < 0.01), while expressive suppression was correlated weakly with lower secure flourishing (r = -0.02, p < 0.05). Mediation analysis showed cognitive reappraisal (indirect effect b = 0.06, 95% CI [0.05, 0.06]) and expressive suppression (b = 0.002, [-0.004, -0.001]) significantly mediated the PCEs-flourishing relationship. Similar results were found with secure flourishing. Findings suggest that emotion regulation, particularly cognitive reappraisal, may be a key psychological mechanism linking PCEs to flourishing later in life among young adults in China.