Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs)

In 2019, the results of a study of 6,188 adults at Johns Hopkins were released. The focus of the study was to identify Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) that could buffer against the health effects of traumatic ones. Why is it that some children who experience adversity in childhood go on to have healthy, appropriate development and good adult mental and emotional health? The researchers were looking to identify the factors that created a level of resiliency in these young people that helped them to thrive, despite difficult childhoods marred by trauma. The study found 7 positive childhood experiences (PCEs) can be statistically linked to good emotional and mental health in adults. It found that children with PCEs become adults who are able to seek social and emotional support!

The PCEs study helps shape research moving in an additional direction: increasing positive childhood experiences to build resilience in kids who have experienced trauma, and those who may in the future. The relationship between PCEs in childhood and good mental health in adults is dose-responsive; simply put, the more PCEs a child gets, the better their adult mental health is likely to be.

The 7 PCEs are:

1. The ability to talk with family about feelings.

2. The sense that family is supportive during difficult times.

3. The enjoyment of participation in community traditions.

4. Feeling a sense of belonging in high school.

5. Feeling supported by friends.

6. Having at least two non-parent adults who genuinely cared.

7. Feeling safe and protected by an adult in the home.

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In relation to Ability to Talk with Family about Feelings

1. In your childhood household, did you have anyone to talk to about feelings? Who was that and how did you talk about feelings (did you raise the topic, or did they, was it through text/email/in person)

2. What would happen if you had ‘big’ emotions (ie became upset at the loss of a sports game, became angry at a sibling taking a toy etc)?

3. Consider your household now. How do you talk about feelings?

In relation to family is supportive during difficult times

4. Think of a time when as a child or young person under the age of 18 when something difficult happened to you or someone in your family. It doesn’t have to be trauma or abuse, it could be as simple as a failed school test, a friendship breakdown, a relationship break up etc. Who provided support, and what sort of support was available?

5. Can you think of a time as a child or young person when you didn’t get the support you felt you needed? Share your reflections from that time, how it felt etc.

In relation to enjoyment of participation in community traditions

6. Describe two or three community traditions you participated in as a child / under the age of 18. What were they, how did you celebrate/participate in them, and how important were they to you? This could be about sporting events, days of cultural or social significance (Anzac day, Sorry day, New Years day), engaging with school, church or other community groups etc.

7. Think of the community traditions you celebrate or participate in today. Pick one and describe what it is and why is it important to you today. Was it important when you were a child too?

8. Consider community traditions that you do NOT attend or participate in right now. Imagine the foster or kinship child in your care is eager to participate, but perhaps the event clashes with your own community traditions (their AFL game is on the same time as your child’s netball game) or clashes with your values (they do not want to attend the Anzac day march, but you always do; they open Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve and you do it on Christmas morning, etc). Reflect on how you make the decision to participate or not and how the child (and yourself) may feel about these ‘clashes’ of important traditions.

What was your experience of high school? Did you feel a sense of belonging?

9. What was your experience of high school? Did you feel a sense of belonging?

10. How do you support a child to develop a sense of belonging when at a high school they don’t like, a new high school, or are disengaged from formal education?

In relation to feeling supported by friends

11. Tell us about 2-3 friends you had as a child – are you still friends with them today? Have you had relationships breakdown and how have you repaired them?

12. What might be some of the challenges for children in care to develop and maintain friendships?

13. How might you help a child build enduring, positive friendships?

In relation to feeling supported by friends

14. Can you identify at least 2 or 3 non-parent adults who played a role in your childhood, as someone who genuinely cared about you. Who were they to you, how did their presence in your life influence you?

In relation to having one adult who made you feel safe and protect in the home

15. Did you have one adult at home who made you feel safe, who was that person to you, and what was it about them that made you feel safe?

16. How can you be a safe, protective adult for a child you have not met before, like a foster child entering your home for the first time? What can you do to help a child feel safe?