Background

Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) are supportive and safe interactions and environments in early life, such as emotional support or a sense of belonging, that promote healthy development and well-being. These experiences often are associated with positive health outcomes such as good mental health, but there is limited research that explains how positive childhood experiences impact our health later in life. In this study, we wanted to explore whether positive childhood experiences are related to inflammation levels in early adulthood.

Research

The study involved exploring data from 2802 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort. Firstly, we examined if the positive experiences that the participants had in childhood were linked to the level of the following inflammation biomarkers at age 24: soluble urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). We did not find evidence of this. Secondly, we looked specifically at the types of positive childhood experiences that the participants reported to explore if a particular type of experience was more closely linked to inflammation than others. ‘High frequency contact with family and friends’ was associated with lower levels of CRP in early adulthood. There was no strong evidence found for other types of PCEs. Thirdly, we looked at whether the participants had experienced childhood trauma at the same time as they experienced positive childhood experiences. If so, we wanted to explore if this traumatic experience had any impact on the link between PCEs and levels of the inflammation biomarkers. We did not find that childhood trauma had any impact.

Potential Impact

Overall, there was limited evidence for associations between PCEs and early adult inflammation. Focusing on PCEs enables us to see beyond the negative framing of childhood trauma and focus instead on the assets and supports within children’s lives. Further evaluation of biological mechanisms within the joint assessment of PCEs and childhood trauma is warranted to better target effective early life interventions.