Emerging adult wellbeing: associations with adverse childhood experiences, parenting practices and the parent-adolescent relationship

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: Parenting practices and the parent-offspring relationship may protect against the effects of childhood adversity; however, their influence past adolescence is unclear. This paper investigates the associations between adverse childhood experiences, parenting practices and the parent-adolescent relationship, and emerging adults’ wellbeing (positive development, emotional difficulties). Method: A survey of 298 emerging adults aged 18-25, recruited from a university and the wider community was conducted and analysed using moderated multiple regression, controlling for demographic characteristics and recruitment method. Results: Emerging adults’ wellbeing was associated with their past experiences of adversity, parenting practices and parent-adolescent relationship. Experiencing more types of adversity was associated with greater emotional difficulties. Independent of the level of adversity experienced, connectedness and supportive monitoring were associated with more positive development, and hostility was associated with more emotional difficulties. No parenting variables moderated the relationship between adversity and wellbeing. Conclusions: Although emerging adults who experienced childhood adversity may have more emotional difficulties, the parenting experienced during adolescence is also an important predictor of wellbeing during emerging adulthood. Regardless of their level of adversity, adolescents may benefit from supportive monitoring and a connected, non-hostile relationship with their parent; to help them develop positive skills and emotional wellbeing into emerging adulthood. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: Adverse childhood experiences are linked with poorer wellbeing across the life course. Parenting practices and the parent-adolescent relationship can protect adolescents from some of adversity’s effects on wellbeing. The parent-adolescent relationship and parenting practices experienced during adolescence can influence young people’s wellbeing. What this topic adds: Emerging adults’ wellbeing is associated with their past experiences of adversity, parenting practices and the parent-adolescent relationship. The more types of adversity experienced by emerging adults, the higher their emotional difficulties are likely to be. Regardless of their level of past adversity, emerging adults are more likely to report better wellbeing if they had experienced a connected, non-hostile parent-adolescent relationship, and more supportive monitoring during adolescence.