Network connectivity between benevolent childhood experiences and uncertainty stress among Chinese university students

Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to explore the association between benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) and uncertainty stress among Chinese university students by network analysis.MethodsA total of 1,830 university students from three Chinese cities were recruited. Respondents' BCEs and uncertainty stress were self-reported using online questionnaire. The structure of the BCEs-uncertainty stress and related centrality indicators were examined for this sample.ResultsThe overall network model showed that “no ways to suit the important changes in life” was the most influential, followed by “all things are not going well,” “feel that there is nothing to do,” and “worry about the future.” And in this network, the most influential bridge symptom was “having a positive self-concept.”ConclusionThe central symptoms of the BCEs-uncertainty stress network should be prioritized as targets in interventions and prevention efforts to reduce uncertainty stress among Chinese university students. Improving university students' positive self-concept is important to alleviate the level of uncertainty stress among Chinese university students.

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

“…However, higher PCEs predicted higher narcissism (Starbird & Story, 2020) and PCEs were not associated with family-level adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic . While higher levels of PCEs were associated with lower general perceived stress (Marshall, 2020;Merrick et al, 2019) and lower uncertainty stress (Zhang et al, 2021;Pei et al, 2022), PCEs did not predict parenting stress (Merrick et al, 2019). For parenting outcomes, Abbott (2021) found that higher PCEs predicted more positive self-reported parenting behaviors (i.e., lower psychological and physical aggression, lower neglect towards child), but not parenting attitudes (i.e., spanking and affection beliefs, parenting confidence).…”