Health Associations of Positive Childhood Experiences: A Scoping
Review of the Literature
We conducted a scoping review of the literature to explore the current research on positive childhood experiences (PCEs) and their associations with health outcomes. The purpose of a scoping review is to identify and map the key concepts, theories, evidence and research gaps within a specific field or topic. After performing a comprehensive search across multiple databases and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, we identified 220 relevant publications. The most commonly studied outcomes were substance misuse, suicidal behaviors, and depression, while research on physical health outcomes was limited. Among the types of PCEs, relationships were the most frequently studied, followed by environment and engagement. Although substantial evidence exists on the association between PCEs and health outcomes, more research is needed particularly looking at physical health outcomes.
Publication Information
Authors
Joachim Hero, Laura Gallant*, Dina Burstein*, Sydne Newberry, Nabeel Qureshi, Katie Feistel, Kayla N. Anderson, Kelsey Hannan*, Robert Sege, MD, PhD, FAAP*
*Affiliated with the HOPE National Resource Center
Journal
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Publication Date
January 3, 2025
Keywords
positive childhood experiences; health outcomes; adverse childhood experiences; child development; substance use disorder; suicidal behavior; mental health
Citation
Hero, J.; Gallant, L.; Burstein, D.; Newberry, S.; Qureshi, N.; Feistel, K.; Anderson, K.N.; Hannan, K.; Sege, R. Health Associations of Positive Childhood Experiences: A Scoping Review of the Literature. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22, 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22010059
