Negative and positive childhood experiences with regard to prosocial intentions and interpersonal trust levels in a national sample of Poles: A network analysis
Negative and positive childhood experiences with regard to prosocial intentions and interpersonal trust levels in a national sample of Poles: A network analysis
StatusVoR
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Authors
Rzeszutek, Marcin
Grabowska, Magdalena
Dragan, Małgorzata
Lis-Turlejska, Maria
Schier, Katarzyna
Kowalkowska, Joanna
Styśko-Kunkowska, Małgorzata
Malinowska, Ewa
Osiński, Tomasz
Bargiel-Matusiewicz, Kamilla
Monograph
Monograph (alternative title)
Date
2025-10-08
Publisher
Journal title
Child Abuse & Neglect
Issue
Volume
169
Pages
Pages
1-13
ISSN
0145-2134
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2025-10-08
Abstract PL
Abstract EN
Background: Numerous studies showed that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have longlasting and negative consequences on adult functioning. Conversely, the role of positive childhood experiences (PCEs) is still a highly understudied research area. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the distinct impacts of various types of ACEs and PCEs on prosocial intentions, as well as the interpersonal trust levels in a national sample of Poles while controlling for the number of lifetime traumatic events. Participants and setting: A representative sample of Polish adults (n = 2231) took part in this study.
The sampling procedure was designed to ensure that the demographic composition of the sample matched that of the general Polish population.
Methods: ACEs were assessed using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, PCEs were evaluated with the Benevolent Childhood Experiences Scale, and the number of lifetime traumatic events was measured using the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5. Prosocial intentions were analysed with the dictator game paradigm, and the interpersonal trust was measured using the Interpersonal Trust Scale from the Social World Opinion Questionnaire. Results: Network analysis showed that ACEs were negatively related to prosocial intentions towards the closest family members, but at the same time, they were positively linked to altruistic tendencies towards strangers. In contrast, PCEs were positively associated with interpersonal trust among the participants. Conclusion: Our study makes an important contribution to childhood adversity and resilience research by focusing on complex and counterintuitive associations between negative and positive childhood experiences and important aspects of adaptive adult functioning – namely, prosocial intentions and interpersonal trust.
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Keywords PL
Keywords EN
Adverse childhood experiences
Positive childhood experiences
Prosocial intentions
Interpersonal trust
Network analysis
Positive childhood experiences
Prosocial intentions
Interpersonal trust
Network analysis
Keywords other
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