Promotive and protective childhood factors for psychological resilience in childhood abuse and neglect

This retrospective, cross-sectional, self-report study examined childhood promotive and protective factors associated with psychological resilience following childhood abuse and neglect. Data from 913 young adult college students were included in the study. The current study tested the Compensatory and Protective Factor Models of Resilience Theory. For this purpose, the Childhood Protective Experiences Scale was developed first. Measurements include Childhood Protective Experiences Scale, Childhood Positive Experiences Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Brief Resilience Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory, and Socio-Demographic Information Form. The validity and reliability of the developed scale were determined by content validity, face validity, construct validity, and criterion-related validity, Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, and Stratified alfa coefficients. The hypotheses were tested using hierarchical regression and moderation models. The Childhood Protective Experiences Scale was found valid and reliable. Childhood abuse and neglect predicted resilience and psychopathological symptoms in young adulthood. Perceived social support and self-regulation in childhood (not neighborhood cohesion) predicted resilience and psychopathological symptoms, independently of the level of childhood abuse and neglect. The moderator role of perceived social support between resilience and childhood abuse and neglect is significant when childhood abuse and neglect is low or moderate (not high). Self-regulation and cumulative childhood protective experiences moderated the relationship between resilience and childhood abuse and neglect. The moderator role of perceived social support, self-regulation, and neighborhood cohesion between psychopathological symptoms and childhood abuse and neglect is not significant, meanwhile cumulative childhood protective experiences significantly moderated aforementioned relationship. Suggestions for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers were presented.