Recent research shows the mental, physical, and financial benefits of PCEs
The HOPE National Resource Center recently led a research collaboration that analyzed Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) data in four U.S. states to study the lifelong health effects of positive childhood experiences (PCEs). The research team found further evidence that PCEs are associated with long-term health and well-being, better life opportunity outcomes, and savings on medical spending. The study was published in JAMA Network Open.
Translating research findings into talking points
This latest research supports the need to promote PCEs for children and families across sectors and communities. To encourage action, we created a new resource, Ten Takeaways from Recent PCE Research, that translates key research findings into talking points for those who might care about promoting PCEs:
- PCEs help everyone: The paper showed that PCEs improved health outcomes across age, race and ethnicity, sex, and geographic location.
- Higher PCEs reduced the risk of adult diabetes: The more PCEs someone reported, the lower the rate of adult diabetes. Diabetes rates fell by 20% for adults who reported 3-5 PCEs and by 27% for adults who reported 6-7 PCEs, compared to those with no PCEs.
- One in five cases of COPD avoided by any PCEs: Experiencing 1 or more PCEs lowered the chance of developing COPD, with any amount of PCEs avoiding up to one in five cases of COPD.
- PCEs lower the risk of cancer: Compared to those reporting no PCEs, those who reported having 3-5 PCEs were 29% less likely to have any form of cancer.
- Higher PCEs reduced the risk of heart disease: Heart disease rates fell by 35% for adults who reported 3-5 PCEs and by 47% for adults who reported 6-7 PCEs. The more PCEs someone reported, the lower the odds they had heart disease.
- Higher PCEs are associated with higher adult incomes: The likelihood of earning an income over $50,000 for those who reported no PCEs was 28%, which rose to 46% for those reporting 3-5 PCEs and rose to 59% for those reporting 6-7 PCEs.
- Higher PCEs associated with college education: The likelihood of receiving a college education for those who reported no PCEs was 40%, which rose to 58% for those reporting 3-5 PCEs and rose to 67% for those reporting 6-7 PCEs.
- Higher PCEs associated with better adult mental health: Compared to respondents with no PCEs, those who reported 3-5 PCEs were 40% less likely to report depression, and those reporting 6-7 PCEs were 68% less likely to report depression.
- PCEs reduce smoking later in life: Adults who reported having 3-5 PCEs were 21% less likely to smoke 100 cigarettes over their lifetime, and those with 6-7 PCEs reduced their chance of smoking 100 cigarettes by over a third (36%).
- PCEs save money: This study found that people with 3 or more PCEs averted nearly $216 billion in economic losses in these four states. Each year, the averted medical spending and more years of healthy life amounted to $215,900,000,000 for the total population of Kansas, Montana, South Carolina, and Wisconsin combined!
Take action to promote PCEs
This resource will guide you in leading conversations about promoting PCEs in your work, organization, community, and in any setting that supports the children and families around you. Not sure how to start promoting PCEs? Reach out to us to get started!
