Trajectories of positive attributes from childhood to early adulthood and their association with environmental factors

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the trajectory of positive attributes from childhood to early adulthood and how these trajectories might be modified by environmental factors. Methods: We enrolled 2,511 participants aged 6 to 14 years from a large prospective school-based community cohort of Brazilian children and adolescents, 45% of whom were girls. They were assessed and followed for up to 3 years (with 80% retention) or 6 years (with 71% retention). Positive attributes were assessed by using the Youth Strength Inventory (YSI). A composite measure using several indicators was used to assess childhood exposure to threats and deprivations. Results: The trajectories of YSI scores were nonlinear for male and female participants, being high in childhood, decreasing in adolescence, and being high again in early adulthood. Exposure to threat and deprivation presented a negative linear association with YSI over time. Furthermore, exposure to threat and deprivation early in life, but not later, presented an additional effect on decreasing positive attributes during the life course. Conclusion: Our findings provide new evidence on the trajectories of positive attributes in children and adolescents and show how early life adversity affects not only mental disorders but also positive aspects of mental health.

Keywords

• Socioemotional skills
• positive mental health
• personality
• adversity
• threat
• deprivation