Prevalence of Positive Childhood Experiences Among Adults - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Four States, 2015-2021

Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) promote optimal health and mitigate the effects of adverse childhood experiences, but PCE prevalence in the United States is not well-known. Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, this study describes the prevalence of individual and cumulative P...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report 2024-05, Vol.73 (17), p.399-404
Main Authors: Sege, Robert, Swedo, Elizabeth A, Burstein, Dina, Aslam, Maria V, Jones, Jennifer, Bethell, Christina, Niolon, Phyllis Holditch
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Adults
Adverse childhood experiences
African Americans
Aged
Behavior
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Bisexuality
Child
Children
College graduates
Data collection
Education
Educational attainment
Employment
Ethnicity
Family income
Female
Full Report
Gays & lesbians
Health promotion
Hispanic Americans
Households
Humans
Kansas - epidemiology
Lesbians
Male
Medical research
Medicine, Experimental
Middle Aged
Montana - epidemiology
Native Americans
Natural resources
Population studies
Prevalence
Public health
Risk factors
Risk taking
Secondary schools
Sexual orientation
Social aspects
Sociodemographics
South Carolina - epidemiology
Surveillance
Surveillance systems
United States - epidemiology
Wisconsin - epidemiology
Young Adult
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Summary:Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) promote optimal health and mitigate the effects of adverse childhood experiences, but PCE prevalence in the United States is not well-known. Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, this study describes the prevalence of individual and cumulative PCEs among adults residing in four states: Kansas (2020), Montana (2019), South Carolina (2020), and Wisconsin (2015). Cumulative PCE scores were calculated by summing affirmative responses to seven questions. Subscores were created for family-related (three questions) and community-related (four questions) PCEs. The prevalence of individual PCEs varied from 59.5% (enjoyed participating in community traditions) to 90.5% (adult in respondents' household made them feel safe), and differed significantly by race and ethnicity, age, and sexual orientation. Fewer non-Hispanic Black or African American (49.2%), non-Hispanic Alaska Native or American Indian (37.7%), and Hispanic or Latino respondents (38.9%) reported 6-7 PCEs than did non-Hispanic White respondents (55.2%). Gay or lesbian, and bisexual respondents were less likely than were straight respondents to report 6-7 PCEs (38.1% and 27.4% versus 54.7%, respectively). A PCE score of 6-7 was more frequent among persons with higher income and education. Improved understanding of the relationship of PCEs to adult health and well-being and variation among population subgroups might help reduce health inequities.
ISSN:0149-2195
1545-861X
DOI:10.15585/mmwr.mm7317a3