Parents’ Positive Childhood Experiences: A Scoping Review

Abstract Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) are relational experiences occurring in childhood that confer a sense of safety and nurturance and are a powerful social determinant of health. Although these experiences may lay the foundation for later parenting practices, little is known about how parents’ PCEs influence the next generations’ childhood experiences and health outcomes. The purpose of this scoping review is to understand the extent and type of evidence available regarding parents’ PCEs and the potential impact of parents’ PCEs on intergenerational transmission of PCEs and protective factors for children’s health and psychosocial outcomes. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were peer-reviewed and examined parents’ positive or benevolent childhood experiences. The literature search yielded 761 unique references in total, and ultimately 43 studies were included in the review. Parents’ PCEs were associated with better parent mental health and more positive parenting beliefs and attitudes, while outcomes were mixed for parenting behaviors and family and child health outcomes. Further research incorporating longitudinal and/or multiple data sources, as well as more direct examination of the proposed underlying mechanisms of PCEs on parenting and children’s health outcomes is needed. This is an area of research that has the potential to contribute to improving health across populations and merits significantly more and higher quality research to refine and deliver useful interventions for those parents most in need of support.