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Adverse Childhood Experiences and Psychological Well-Being in Chinese College Students: Mediation Effect of Mindfulness

Author

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  • Chien-Chung Huang

    (School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

  • Yuanfa Tan

    (Research Institute of Social Development, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Shannon P. Cheung

    (School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

  • Hongwei Hu

    (School of Public Administration and Policy, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China)

Abstract

Literature on the antecedents of psychological well-being (PWB) has found that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and mindfulness are associated with PWB; less is known, however, about the role of mindfulness, a type of emotional and self-regulation, in the pathway between ACEs and PWB. This study used data from 1871 college students across China to examine the relation between ACEs and PWB, and whether the relation was mediated by mindfulness. The findings from structural equation modelling indicate a statistically significant negative association between ACEs and PWB, while mindfulness was strongly and positively associated with PWB. The effect of ACEs on PWB was reduced once mindfulness was controlled for in the analysis. This provides evidence that mindfulness was able to partially mediate the effects of negative life experiences on psychological well-being. This calls for mindfulness interventions targeted toward students with a history of ACEs to buffer the effects of ACEs on PWB.

Suggested Citation

  • Chien-Chung Huang & Yuanfa Tan & Shannon P. Cheung & Hongwei Hu, 2021. "Adverse Childhood Experiences and Psychological Well-Being in Chinese College Students: Mediation Effect of Mindfulness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1636-:d:496068
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shannon Cheung & Xiaoxia Xie & Chien-chung Huang, 2020. "Mind Over Matter: Mindfulness, Income, Resilience, and Life Quality of Vocational High School Students in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Huang, Chien-Chung & Chen, Yafan & Greene, Loren & Cheung, Shannon & Wei, Yuhan, 2019. "Resilience and emotional and behavioral problems of adolescents in China: Effects of a short-term and intensive mindfulness and life skills training," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 291-297.
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    4. Reina, Christopher S. & Kudesia, Ravi S., 2020. "Wherever you go, there you become: How mindfulness arises in everyday situations," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 78-96.
    5. Long, Mark C., 2008. "College quality and early adult outcomes," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 588-602, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Borazon, Elaine Quintana & Chuang, Hsueh-Hua, 2023. "Resilience in educational system: A systematic review and directions for future research," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).

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