Childhood experiences and adult health: the moderating effects of temperament

Abstract

Existing literature demonstrates a strong relationship between childhood experiences and adult health outcomes. The Differential Susceptibility to Environment Theory suggests that there are several factors, including personality, that affect a child's sensitivity to adverse and advantageous experiences. A sample of 246 adults (ages 19-57) were asked questions about extroverted personality characteristics, adverse and advantageous childhood experiences (ACEs and counter-ACEs), and several indicators of adult health, including executive functioning, perceived stress levels, depression, and past smoking habits. The sample was then stratified based on level of extroversion scores with the top quartile being labeled as "extroverts", the bottom quartile as "introverts", and those in between as "ambiverts". Regression analyses were then used to assess the relationship between childhood experiences and each adult health outcome. The results of the study showed that the relationship between childhood experiences and adult health was generally stronger among extroverted individuals. These results suggest that extroverts may be more sensitive to environmental influences in childhood as compared to introverts and ambiverts. More research is needed to understand the neurobiological mechanisms that increase environmental sensitivity among extroverts.

A systematic review of positive childhood experiences and adult outcomes: Promotive and protective processes for resilience in the context of childhood adversity

“…Zhu et al (2023) also found that higher parental PCEs predicted lower difficulties and prosocial problems in their children. Higher PCEs predicted less perceived stress, even after accounting for childhood adversity (Crandall et al, 2019;Doom et al, 2021;Miller et al, 2020;Novilla et al, 2022). While Narayan et al (2018) found that higher PCEs predicted less perceived stress during pregnancy, this relation became null after controlling for adversity.…”

“…Higher PCEs also predicted less risky sexual behaviors (e.g., having sex with someone you do not know or trust; and reproductive planning (i.e., teenage, unwanted, or currently unplanned pregnancy; Merrick et al, 2020), but did not predict timing of sexual initiation . Higher PCEs predicted lower substance use in some studies Novilla et al, 2022), but not in others (Crandall et al, 2019Kuhar & Zager Kocjan, 2021;Miller et al, 2020;Rollins & Crandall, 2021;Anderson, 2021).…”

Assessment of Psychopathological Changes and Mental Functioning in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis – a Literature Review

“…He is much more positive about his health and less susceptible to depression. It also shows great ability to adapt to situations [21]. In turn, coping strategies in the concept of Lazarus and Folkman show that people who are ready to fight the disease have a style focused on taking action.…”

Effects of gender and personality on experience of small living spaces: Ceiling height and floor plan shape in virtual environment

“…Personality and Place Attachment. Among many differences between introverts and extroverts, it has been well established that introverts and extroverts have different preferences in terms of stimulation from the surrounding environment (Miller et al, 2020;Yadegari and Alinaghi, 2020).…”