301 - Parents’ Positive Childhood Experiences Associated with Parent Health, Child Development, and Household Material Well-Being

Poster Number: 301
Publication Number: 301.2094

Background: Significant evidence exists regarding the health impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), but impact of strengths-based frameworks like Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences (HOPE) is understudied. The HOPE framework posits that communities and care systems can foster Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), thus helping children become healthy and resilient adults. We lack understanding of intergenerational relationships of parents’ PCEs with adult health, their child’s health and development, and household material well-being.

Objective: To examine associations of parents’ PCEs with their own health and their young children’s health and development and household’s material well-being (composite of absence of food, housing, utilities, and health care hardships).

Design/Methods: Data came from cross-sectional Children’s HealthWatch study surveys of parents of young children (0-48 months) interviewed in hospital pediatric emergency departments & primary care clinics in 5 United States (US) cities (4/2021-6/2023). PCEs measures 5 parent experiences from their own childhoods within 3 domains: nurturing relationships, constructive social engagement, learning social & emotional competencies. Adjusted log-binomial regression models with predictor as number of PCEs, categorized as 0-2 vs. 3-5 PCEs, and outcomes child health status & developmental risk (Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status), maternal health status & mental health (PHQ4), and number of household material hardships (0 vs 1 or 2+). Results are presented as adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) controlling for child- and parent-level factors. (Table 1) Parent mental health outcomes were analyzed with modified Poisson regression using robust error variance.

Results: Of 2120 parent-child dyads, 62.8% (n=1332) reported 3-5 PCEs. (Table 1) Parents with more PCEs (3-5) were less likely to be in fair/poor health, to have anxiety or depression, and to report both 1 and 2+ material hardships (vs. 0) and their children were less likely to have developmental risk compared to parents with fewer PCEs (0-2). (Table 2)

Conclusion(s): Higher counts of parent PCEs have significant associations with better early childhood development for their children, parents’ better physical and mental health, and greater likelihood of the household being free of material hardships. Policies and programs that support today’s parents in ensuring PCEs for their children may have both immediate and multigenerational benefits.