The examination of the heterogeneous psychological impact of adverse childhood experiences on Chinese children with and without left-behind status

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), encompassing situations like abuse, neglect, and family challenges, have a pervasive global presence and profoundly impact children’s mental well-being (MWB). This study aims to comprehensively examine these effects within the context of Chinese children and explores the potential mediating roles of social support and resilience. Additionally, the study examines whether the unique circumstance of being left behind alters these relationships. The research collected data in Yunnan Province, China and the final sample size was 775. Intriguingly, the finding revealed that direct associations between ACEs and children’s MWB were not statistically significant. However, our analysis underscores the pivotal roles played by social support and resilience in mediating the relationship between ACEs and MWB. This implies that the presence of supportive relationships and the capacity to bounce back from challenges have a considerable impact in mitigating the negative effects of ACEs on children’s mental well-being. Furthermore, this study unveils a noteworthy moderating effect of the left-behind status, notably influencing the connections between ACEs and both resilience and social support. These findings contribute to enrich our understanding of the interacting mechanism in relationship between ACEs and MWB, offering valuable insights for policymakers and social workers. The findings could guide the formulation of targeted interventions that effectively promote the mental well-being of children affected by ACEs.