Maia Bárbara, Cruz Ana Rita, Cunha Olga
HEI-Lab: Digital Human-Environment Interaction Labs, Lusófona University, Campo Grande, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal.
Psychology Research Center (CIPSI), School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
Behav Sci (Basel). 2025 Jun 17;15(6):828. doi: 10.3390/bs15060828.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to a higher risk of criminal behaviour, while positive childhood experiences (PCEs) may offer a protective effect by mitigating the negative impact of ACEs. Both ACEs and PCEs play a significant role in shaping emotional regulation. However, research on the influence of PCEs within incarcerated populations remains limited. This study aimed to examine the associations between ACEs, PCEs, and emotional regulation difficulties in a prison sample, and to explore whether PCEs moderate the relationship between ACEs and emotional regulation difficulties in adulthood. The analysis considered both the overall emotional regulation difficulties score and its specific dimensions-strategies, non-acceptance, impulse, goals, awareness, and clarity. The study included 283 men, with a mean age of 40.03 (SD = 11.64), ranging from 19 to 84 years, who were incarcerated in seven prisons in northern Portugal. Data were collected using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale, the Benevolent Childhood Experiences Scale, and the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale-Short Form. The results revealed statistically significant positive correlations between ACEs and overall emotional regulation difficulties, as well as with nearly all subscales (strategies, impulse, goals, awareness, and clarity). Conversely, PCEs were significantly negatively correlated with overall emotional regulation difficulties and most subscales (impulse, goals, awareness, and clarity). However, PCEs did not moderate the relationship between ACEs and emotional regulation difficulties. These findings may be influenced by the characteristics of the sample, highlighting the need for further research-preferably longitudinal studies-to better assess the potential moderating role of PCEs. Such research could enhance the effectiveness of prevention and intervention strategies for incarcerated populations.
童年不良经历（ACEs）与更高的犯罪行为风险相关联，而积极的童年经历（PCEs）可能通过减轻ACEs的负面影响起到保护作用。ACEs和PCEs在塑造情绪调节方面都发挥着重要作用。然而，关于PCEs对被监禁人群影响的研究仍然有限。本研究旨在考察监狱样本中ACEs、PCEs与情绪调节困难之间的关联，并探讨PCEs是否缓和成年期ACEs与情绪调节困难之间的关系。该分析考虑了情绪调节困难总分及其具体维度——策略、不接受、冲动、目标、意识和清晰度。研究纳入了283名男性，平均年龄为40.03岁（标准差=11.64），年龄范围在19至84岁之间，他们被关押在葡萄牙北部的七所监狱中。数据通过童年不良经历量表、良性童年经历量表和情绪调节困难量表简版收集。结果显示，ACEs与情绪调节困难总分以及几乎所有子量表（策略、冲动、目标、意识和清晰度）之间存在统计学上显著的正相关。相反，PCEs与情绪调节困难总分以及大多数子量表（冲动、目标、意识和清晰度）之间存在显著负相关。然而，PCEs并未缓和ACEs与情绪调节困难之间的关系。这些发现可能受到样本特征的影响，这凸显了进一步研究——最好是纵向研究——以更好地评估PCEs潜在调节作用的必要性。此类研究可以提高针对被监禁人群的预防和干预策略的有效性。
