Adverse Childhood Experiences and Hope as Risk and Protective Factors for Mental Health in the Context of COVID-19 Stress.

Publication date: Jun 01, 2026

The current study sought to extend prior research on the potential sensitizing effect of prior adversity exposure as well as the potential buffering effect of hope by examining both adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and hope as moderators of the association between COVID-19-related stress and mental health in young adults during the pandemic. Participants (N = 267) were undergraduate students at a large urban public university in the southern United States who completed study measures as part of a cross-sectional online survey between November 2020 and May 2021. A structural equation model was used to test the associations of COVID-19 stress, ACEs, hope, and their three interactions, in association with a latent variable of psychological distress. Controlling for gender, ACEs and COVID-19 stress interacted (cDF = - 0. 20, p = . 001) such that as the number of ACEs increased, there was a weaker association between COVID-19 stress and psychological distress. Hope and COVID-19 stress interacted (cDF = - 0. 14, p = . 02) such that as hope increased, COVID-19 stress had a weaker association with psychological distress. Hope and ACEs did not interact (cDF = 0. 05, p = . 41) in association with psychological distress. Having experienced four or more ACEs was associated with high levels of psychological distress regardless of level of COVID-19 stress, whereas those with low levels of ACEs appeared more susceptible to COVID-19 stress. Hope served as a likely protective factor for mental health in the context of pandemic stress, suggesting it may be an important avenue of intervention for young adults facing current stressors. Findings should be tested further in a longitudinal design. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10. 1007/s40653-025-00772-4.

Semantics

Original Article