By: Teresa Gong

ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) and PCEs (positive childhood experiences) have a huge impact on children’s development and well-being. ACEs refer to experiences such as abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, and exposure to violence. PCEs, on the other hand, are positive experiences that contribute to children’s healthy development, such as supportive family relationships, community engagement, and a sense of belonging.

A 2019 study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics explored the effects of PCEs on mental health. The study found that adults who reported positive childhood experiences had a significantly lower risk of depression and mental health struggles. The lead author, Christina Bethell, a professor of child health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, emphasized the importance of nurturing relationships and positive interactions in a child’s life, even in the face of adversity.

The positive impact of reading aloud with young children and the Reach Out and Read program encourages parents to engage in reading activities with their children. The program aims to foster positive parent-child interactions and early literacy skills, contributing to children’s cognitive performance and mental health.

“The parenting influences were actually stronger than the adverse influences,” said David E. Bard, a psychologist who is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. “It’s a very promising message, we ought to be doing everything we can to help parents create those positive experiences.”

The science of ACEs gained attention for its insights into how early adversity can impact physical and mental health outcomes in adulthood. However, researchers also began studying resilience and positive factors that can counterbalance the negative effects of ACEs.

“What I’m really saying is it’s the quality of their presence and connection with the child that is the magic juice that makes those behaviors really matter even if you’re not doing it perfectly, that is what is lodged in the nervous system of the child,” said Bethell.