Impact of Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs): A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies

Kannan Kallapiran; Shuichi Suetani; Vanessa Cobham; Valsamma Eapen; James Scott

doi:10.1007/s10578-024-01807-x

Impact of Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs): A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies

Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2025 Jan 6. doi: 10.1007/s10578-024-01807-x. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Kannan Kallapiran^{1

2

3}, Shuichi Suetani^{4

5

6}, Vanessa Cobham^{4

7}, Valsamma Eapen⁸, James Scott^{9

7

10}

Affiliations

¹ Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia. [email protected].
² University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia. [email protected].
³ Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Children's Health Queensland Hospital & Health Service, South Brisbane, Australia. [email protected].
⁴ University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia.
⁵ Physical and Mental Health Research Stream, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, Australia.
⁶ School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Southport, Australia.
⁷ Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Children's Health Queensland Hospital & Health Service, South Brisbane, Australia.
⁸ University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
⁹ Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia.
¹⁰ Child and Youth Mental Health, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, Australia.

PMID: 39760826
DOI: 10.1007/s10578-024-01807-x

Abstract

Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) may mitigate the negative outcomes resulting from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). To date, most PCE research has used cross-sectional or retrospective designs. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus were searched in May 2024 for longitudinal studies that examined the impact of cumulative PCEs. Eight publications from five longitudinal studies with a total of 16,451 participants were included. Three studies focused only on adolescent outcomes. PCEs were associated with reduced rates of depression, substance use, delinquent behavior, risky sexual behavior, persistent insomnia, and lower inflammatory markers. Cumulative PCEs in childhood may moderate the impact of ACEs, potentially playing an important role in reducing the risk for mental disorders and other adverse outcomes later in life.PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022384775).

Keywords: Prevention; Promotion; Resilience; Support.

Publication types

Review