Intersection of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Subjective Well-Being and Social Anxiety among Sojourners in China

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) significantly threaten sojourners' well-being, depriving them of adaptive strategies to mitigate the negative influences. However, research examining social dysfunctions, such as social anxiety resulting from compromised well-being due to ACEs, remains limited. This study investigate how subjective well-being may mediate the relationship between ACEs and social anxiety among diverse groups of sojourners in China. Utilizing structural equation modeling, this study analyzed data from 470 sojourners in China to assess the direct effects of ACEs on social anxiety and whether subjective well-being mediates this relationship.The findings revealed that ACEs were not directly associated with social anxiety (β = 0.101, p = 0.089). However, ACEs were found to negatively impact subjective well-being (β = -0.483, p < 0.001). Additionally, subjective well-being was negatively associated with social anxiety (β = -0.268, p < 0.001), indicating that higher levels of subjective well-being correspond to lower levels of social anxiety. The study identified a full mediation effect, demonstrating that when ACEs diminish sojourners' subjective well-being, social anxiety tends to increase (β = 0.129, SE = 0.038, CI = [0.072, 0.198], p < 0.01), confirming the enervating effects of ACEs on social anxiety regardless of subjective well-being. No significant gender disparities were observed in the interrelationships among ACEs, subjective well-being, and social anxiety. Outcomes varied among students, expatriates, and business owners based on the model. Support and interventions should consider ACEs as risk factors for low subjective well-being, which can lead to social dysfunctions such as social anxiety. Addressing these factors is crucial for improving the overall well-being of sojourners.