Positive Childhood Experiences Support Cognition and Counteract Behavior and Emotion Problems During Early Adolescence

Objective

This study aimed to identify the independent associations of positive childhood experiences (PCEs) on brain health (cognitive function, behavioral and emotional problems) among early adolescents.

Methods

Data from the 2-year follow-up visit from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study were analyzed (N = 5449, mean age: 12.0 ± 0.7, age range = 10.6–13.4 years). Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were measured by parent report at baseline, and PCEs were measured by parent report at year two. Dependent variables included cognitive function domains (National Institutes of Health [NIH] Toolbox) and the child behavior checklist (CBCL) subscales at year two. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed for each dependent variable, with the number of PCEs and ACEs as independent variables, adjusting for age, sex, race and ethnicity, puberty stage, and family income.

Results

PCEs were associated with better cognitive function on tasks of picture vocabulary (b = 0.29, 95% CI 0.15–0.43), flanker (b = 0.14, 0.00–0.28), reading recognition (b = 0.19, CI 0.08–0.31), and picture sequence memory (b = 0.44, CI 0.21–0.67). The PCEs:ACEs interaction showed that greater PCEs predicted a weaker association of ACEs on the CBCL subscales: anxious-depressed (b = −0.06, −0.10 to −0.01), withdrawn (b = −0.06, −0.09 to −0.04), aggressive behavior (b = −0.11, −0.17 to −0.06), rule-breaking behaviors (b = −0.06, −0.09 to −0.04), social problems (b = −0.04, −0.07 to −0.01), somatic complaints (b = −0.03, −0.06 to 0.00), and total CBCL problems (b = −0.46, −0.69 to −0.23).

Conclusions

Exposure to PCEs supports cognition and is protective against psychopathology, even among children exposed to ACEs.