Positive Childhood Experiences (PCE): Cumulative Resiliency in the Face of Adverse Childhood Experiences

Abstract

The maltreatment-offending relationship has been well elucidated. Less examined are protective factors that effectively serve to mitigate offending among ACE-exposed youth. The current study examines whether cumulative positive childhood experiences (PCEs) are themselves associated with a reduction in recidivism among juvenile justice-involved adolescents, and the ability of cumulative PCE to moderate the ACE-recidivism relationship. Results demonstrate, among over 28,000 juvenile offenders, high ACE scores were associated with increased reoffending, and high PCE scores were associated with decreased recidivism, as measured by both rearrest and reconviction. Further, among juveniles with four or more ACEs who have six or more PCEs, reconviction was 23% lower and rearrest 22% lower when compared to those youth with four or more ACEs and less than six PCEs, controlling for a host of demographic and criminal history measures. Findings indicate that among youth with high PCE scores the positive association between ACEs and recidivism is no longer significant. Implications for juvenile justice practice and policy are discussed.

Evaluating RNR-Based Targeted Treatment and Intervention Dosage in the Context of Traumatic Exposure

“…Additionally, prior work calls for expansion of exposures both within and outside of the home to include such experiences as witnessing violence in the community, racial discrimination, bullying, food insecurity, chaotic homes, and homelessness (Bonner et al, 2019; DeLisi et al, 2019; Finkelhor et al, 2015; Mersky et al, 2017; Testa & Jackson, 2020). Simultaneous consideration of cumulative positive childhood experiences (PCE) has recently been explored (e.g., Sabina & Banyard, 2015) but only just recently been assessed for recidivism-reduction effects (Baglivio & Wolff, 2020).…”

Resilience in Context: The Association between Neighborhood Disadvantage and Cumulative Positive Childhood Experiences among Justice-Involved Youth

“…This model is grounded in the ecological framework that argues multiple systems, such as those found in the individual, family, neighborhood, and schools, interact to affect an individual's development. Though the literature is yet to agree on a standard set of PCE indicators, several of these focus on family/ friend support, engaging in family/community traditions, having adult mentors, healthy family communication, experiencing a sense of belonging in school, and engaging in organized activities (Baglivio & Wolff, 2020).…”

“…These domains included school attainment (e.g., verbal/nonverbal intelligence), self-control (e.g., risk-taking, hyperactivity), personality (e.g., popularity, number of friends), socioeconomic (e.g., family income), and parent (e.g., parental interest in boy's education). A recent study by Baglivio and Wolff (2020) reported having a large number of PCEs was associated with a lower likelihood of recidivism among juvenile delinquents involved in the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FDJJ). Further, they also found that ACEs were not associated with recidivism among youth with a relatively high number of PCEs.…”

“…As a whole, this literature suggests individuals with more PCEs are less likely to engage in antisocial behavior and to experience negative health outcomes, both mentally and physically (Baglivio & Wolff, 2020;Bethell et al, 2019;Crandall et al, 2020). However, as this body of literature is relatively new, few scholars have investigated the potential correlates of PCEs, particularly in the juvenile justice context.…”

“…However, whether contextual conditions are similarly related to cumulative positive childhood experiences (PCEs) has heretofore been unaddressed. As PCE exposure is related to juvenile recidivism (Baglivio & Wolff, 2020), the extent to which neighborhood conditions are associated with PCE exposure, above and beyond the effects of the youth's individual-level characteristics, lends to prevention efforts as well as juvenile justice system policy implications. The current study examines the association between both social disorganization and immigrant concentration on PCE exposure among a statewide sample of 10 years of justice-involved youth.…”