The role of perceived negative childhood experiences in the context of recent stress: Testing competing theoretical models

Abstract

The present study evaluated the assumptions of stress sensitization and stress immunization hypotheses about the role of perceived negative childhood experiences on adult adjustment. The study used a longitudinal design with three waves spaced six months apart. The final sample consisted of 293 undergraduate students aged 19 to 30 years. We examined the linear and nonlinear main and moderating effects of perceived negative childhood experiences in the relationship between recent stressful events and both ability to bounce back and subjective well-being. The results yielded nonlinear moderating effects of negative childhood experiences on life satisfaction and the ability to bounce back, whereas a main effect was found for negative affect. A significant drop in the ability to bounce back in the context of high recent life stress was found only among individuals with a very high level of negative childhood experiences. We also found that an increase in the number of negative life events leads to a decrease in life satisfaction among individuals with both low- and high-intensity levels of negative childhood experiences. The present study offers the possibility of integrating different models of additive and interactive effects of perceived negative childhood experiences in the relationship between recent stressors and psychological adjustment.