Adverse Childhood Experiences and Family Health in Adulthood: Is Perceived Social Support an Accelerant or a Buffer?

Abstract

Previous research has indicated that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with family health in adulthood. However, the underlying mechanisms of this relationship have not been explored in depth. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between ACEs and family health in adulthood, as well as the mediating effect of anxiety symptoms and the moderating effect of perceived social support. A total of 30,054 Chinese adults (mean age = 43.41) completed questionnaires regarding ACEs, family health, anxiety symptoms, and perceived social support. The 24.0 PROCESS macro was utilized to conduct mediation and moderation analyses. The results revealed a negative association between ACEs and family health in adulthood, and this association was partially mediated by anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, perceived social support moderated the direct and indirect pathways between ACEs and family health. The stress-buffering effect of perceived social support can protect adults from the effects of ACEs. Interestingly, we found a reverse stress-buffering effect of perceived social support, which could exacerbate the adverse effects of ACEs, particularly when adults are exposed to higher levels of ACEs. The findings contribute to understanding the mechanisms of anxiety symptoms and perceived social support in the relationship between ACEs and family health. Our findings can provide insights for intervention programs or strategies aimed at preventing or mitigating the adverse effects of ACEs.