Association of positive and adverse childhood experiences with risky behaviours and mental health indicators among Chinese university students in Hong Kong: an exploratory study
Creators: name: Xu, Zijun
name: Zhang, Dexing
name: Ding, Hanyue
name: Zheng, Xiaoxiang
name: Lee, Rym Chung-Man
name: Yang, Zuyao
name: Mo, Phoenix Kit-Han
name: Lee, Eric Kam-Pui
name: Wong, Samuel Yeung-Shan
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Science Policy

description: Different childhood experiences may affect adult health differently. To explore the association of different types of positive childhood experiences(PCEs) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with risky behaviours and mental health indicators, andhow PCEs and ACEs are associated with health outcomes in the context of each other. This was an exploratory cross-sectional online survey including 332 university students in Hong Kong. ACEs (abuse and household challenges), PCEs (perceived safety, positive quality of life, and interpersonal support), risky behaviours (smoking, binge drinking, and sexual initiation), and mental health indicators(depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-rated health, multimorbidity, meaning in life, and life satisfaction)were measured. The multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated cumulative effects of PCEs in lowered risks of depression, anxiety, loneliness, as well as better self-rated health, life satisfaction, and meaning in life (<i>p </i>&lt; .05), after adjusting for ACEs. Results also indicated that ACEs had an increasing relationship with poorer mental health indicators, such as anxiety, loneliness, and life satisfaction (<i>p </i>&lt; .05), after adjusting for PCEs. There was also an adverse association between having ≥4 ACEs with smoking and binge drinking. In addition, each type of PCE and ACE was significantly associated with one or more risky behaviours and mental health indicators. Stratified results showed that PCEs had stronger associations with mental health indicators in participants with fewer ACEs. Furthermore, ACEs had stronger associations with mental health indicators in participants with more PCEs than in those with fewer PCEs. In this study, PCE was proven to be an independent protective factor against poor mental health after accounting for ACE. ACE was also proven to be an independent risk factor for poor mental health and risky behaviours. These findings suggest a crucial need for the active promotion of PCEs and the prevention of child maltreatment. The results of subtypes and stratifications can be taken into consideration when developing targeted interventions in the future. PCE is an independent protective factor against poor mental health after accounting for ACE. ACE is an independent risk factor for poor mental health and risky behaviours.PCEs and ACEs have different associations with health outcomes in the context of one another. PCE is an independent protective factor against poor mental health after accounting for ACE. ACE is an independent risk factor for poor mental health and risky behaviours. PCEs and ACEs have different associations with health outcomes in the context of one another.