Relationships among Early Adversity, Positive Human and Animal Interactions, and Mental Health in Young Adults
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poor mental health. Emerging research demonstrates the protective role of positive childhood experiences, including a positive sense of self and relationships with both humans and animals, in mitigating the impacts of early life adversity on m...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/11/12/178 |
| _version_ | 1797506565123604480 |
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| author | Kerri E. Rodriguez Shelby E. McDonald Samantha M. Brown |
| author_facet | Kerri E. Rodriguez Shelby E. McDonald Samantha M. Brown |
| author_sort | Kerri E. Rodriguez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poor mental health. Emerging research demonstrates the protective role of positive childhood experiences, including a positive sense of self and relationships with both humans and animals, in mitigating the impacts of early life adversity on mental health outcomes. This study examined whether benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) or relationships and interactions with pets during childhood moderated the link between ACEs and current mental health symptoms in a sample of young adults. Students (<i>N</i> = 214) recruited from a public university in the U.S. completed an online survey. The results showed that ACEs were significantly associated with worse mental health symptoms, including anxiety and depression. Neither emotional closeness to a childhood pet dog nor positive interactions with a childhood pet were significant moderators of the relationship between ACEs and mental health. In contrast, more BCEs were associated with better mental health, and their interaction with ACEs was significant such that adversity-exposed young adults with high BCEs reported fewer mental health symptoms than those with low BCEs. The results highlight the need for continued research on differential experiences that may be protective in the relationship between adversity exposures and mental health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:34:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0e79125efcc84e368349228b3a0ef2f1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:34:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-0e79125efcc84e368349228b3a0ef2f12023-11-23T03:51:42ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2021-12-01111217810.3390/bs11120178Relationships among Early Adversity, Positive Human and Animal Interactions, and Mental Health in Young AdultsKerri E. Rodriguez0Shelby E. McDonald1Samantha M. Brown2Human-Animal Bond in Colorado (HABIC), School of Social Work, College of Health and Human Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USAClark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USASchool of Social Work, College of Health and Human Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USAAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poor mental health. Emerging research demonstrates the protective role of positive childhood experiences, including a positive sense of self and relationships with both humans and animals, in mitigating the impacts of early life adversity on mental health outcomes. This study examined whether benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) or relationships and interactions with pets during childhood moderated the link between ACEs and current mental health symptoms in a sample of young adults. Students (<i>N</i> = 214) recruited from a public university in the U.S. completed an online survey. The results showed that ACEs were significantly associated with worse mental health symptoms, including anxiety and depression. Neither emotional closeness to a childhood pet dog nor positive interactions with a childhood pet were significant moderators of the relationship between ACEs and mental health. In contrast, more BCEs were associated with better mental health, and their interaction with ACEs was significant such that adversity-exposed young adults with high BCEs reported fewer mental health symptoms than those with low BCEs. The results highlight the need for continued research on differential experiences that may be protective in the relationship between adversity exposures and mental health.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/11/12/178childhood adversityadverse childhood experiences (ACEs)mental healthcompanion animalshuman–animal interaction |
| spellingShingle | Kerri E. Rodriguez Shelby E. McDonald Samantha M. Brown Relationships among Early Adversity, Positive Human and Animal Interactions, and Mental Health in Young Adults Behavioral Sciences childhood adversity adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) mental health companion animals human–animal interaction |
| title | Relationships among Early Adversity, Positive Human and Animal Interactions, and Mental Health in Young Adults |
| title_full | Relationships among Early Adversity, Positive Human and Animal Interactions, and Mental Health in Young Adults |
| title_fullStr | Relationships among Early Adversity, Positive Human and Animal Interactions, and Mental Health in Young Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relationships among Early Adversity, Positive Human and Animal Interactions, and Mental Health in Young Adults |
| title_short | Relationships among Early Adversity, Positive Human and Animal Interactions, and Mental Health in Young Adults |
| title_sort | relationships among early adversity positive human and animal interactions and mental health in young adults |
| topic | childhood adversity adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) mental health companion animals human–animal interaction |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/11/12/178 |
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