POSITIVE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES LINKED TO BETTER HEALTH, INCOME AMONG ADULTS WHO ALSO EXPERIENCED ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES

Posted on May 13, 2026

Children who experienced adverse childhood experiences such as abuse or neglect were more likely to be healthier and higher earners as adults if they also were exposed to positive childhood experiences, including safe, supportive relationships, according to a new study. The study, “Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adult Health and Economic Outcomes,” published in the June Pediatrics (published online May 13) analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey from four states between 2015–2020, including 18,773 adults. Researchers categorized positive and adverse childhood experiences and evaluated them against adult health and life opportunity outcomes. The states included in the survey were Kansas (2020), Michigan (2016), South Carolina (2019), and Wisconsin (2015). Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been shown to have a significant association with alcohol and substance use; smoking; high-risk sexual behaviors; chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders; and mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In the survey, respondents were asked questions such as if they had a supportive adult in their lives, if they felt supported by friends or felt a sense of belonging in high school. Adults who had been exposed to childhood adversity and also reported having some positive childhood experiences (PCEs) were less likely to report having chronic conditions, poor physical health, and tobacco use. The authors observe the potential power of positive experiences, especially among those who have experienced adversity, and emphasize the clinical and public health implications of interventions that effectively promote positive experiences among all children.