Featured Article
Article Title
The Role of Benevolent Childhood Experiences in the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms
Authors
D.J. Wen; Department of Psychology, James Cook University, Singapore
A. Demutska; Department of Psychology, James Cook University, Singapore
Abstract
Keywords
Summary of Research
“Multiple studies have investigated the effects of early childhood experiences on mental health in adulthood. Indeed, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), including childhood maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, and emotional neglect) and family dysfunction (household incarceration, mental illness, substance abuse, intimate partner violence and parental separation or divorce), have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of various mental health issues in adulthood. One potential outcome of prolonged or repetitive exposure to threatening events from which escape is difficult is Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), a mental health disorder that is listed in the International Classification of Diseases but not the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Evidence suggests a positive association between ACEs and CPTSD symptoms, indicating that a higher number of ACEs was associated with more symptoms of CPTSD. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the factors that enhance resilience in individuals exposed to ACEs who could potentially develop CPTSD. Understanding these resilience factors could facilitate the development of targeted interventions aimed at preventing CPTSD in individuals with exposure to ACEs” (p. 518-519).
“One factor that may foster resilience in individuals exposed to childhood adversity is the presence of Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs; Narayan et al., 2018). BCEs refer to positive childhood experiences that are thought to be beneficial, such as supportive relationships (with childhood caregivers, friends, teachers, neighbors, and mentors), positive beliefs about coping, self-esteem, enjoyment of school and home life, and predictable home routines. BCEs have been found to be associated with fewer mental health problems, lower levels of stress, and better adjustment in adulthood. ACEs and BCEs have been shown to be moderately inversely associated, indicating the coexistence of ACEs and BCEs in individuals… However, there is a lack of studies investigating the potential role of BCEs as either a protective factor or promotive factor in the development of CPTSD among individuals who have been exposed to ACEs” (p. 521-522).
“In the present study, we aimed to investigate if BCEs would have a 1) protective effect or 2) promotive effect on CPTSD symptoms. Given the lack of previous studies on ACEs, BCEs, and CPTSD, we investigated in an exploratory analysis whether 1) BCEs would moderate the relationship between ACEs and CPTSD symptoms or 2) BCEs and ACEs would show main effects on CPTSD symptoms. In addition, we examined whether similar patterns emerged when looking at the individual components of CPTSD, namely PTSD symptoms and DSO symptoms. Specifically, we investigated the 1) moderation and 2) main effect relationships with the outcomes of i) CPTSD, ii) PTSD, and iii) DSO symptoms. We conducted this study with a sample of university students, given that previous studies have found that more than half of university students have experienced more than one ACE” (p. 523).
“The present study recruited university students from the psychology program who were 1) 19 years old and above, 2) Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents of Singapore, and 3) able to read English. Participants aged 19 years and older were recruited to ensure they could provide retrospective reports on ACEs and BCEs, as the relevant scales measure experiences from ages 0 to 18… The mean age of participants in the present study was 21.6 years old. This study included 1) male (n = 48) and female (n = 124); and 2) 4 major ethnic groups: Chinese (n = 120), Malay (n = 4), Indian (n = 21), and Others (n = 27) as participants” (p. 523).
“In the present study, we investigated how BCEs and ACEs were related to the symptoms of CPTSD. Specifically, we observed that positive childhood experiences can help buffer against negative outcomes, where BCEs played a significant role in weakening the association between ACEs and PTSD symptoms. BCEs might also play a role in reducing CPTSD symptoms, although this trend did not reach full significance. Even though some of our statistical findings were close to the threshold for significance, the overall pattern suggests that people who had difficult childhoods but also experienced positive relationships and support were less likely to develop severe PTSD symptoms as adults” (p. 529).
