Adverse Childhood Experiences and Flourishing Among Emerging Adult College Students: Religious Beliefs/Spirituality and Social Support as Research Domain Criteria (RDoC)-Informed Mechanisms

Abstract Given the increasing focus on positive outcomes after having experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), continued understanding of protective mechanisms is essential. This study examined the role of a Research Domain Criteria (RDoC)-informed construct of the positive valence system (religious beliefs/spirituality) as a mediator via which ACEs are associated with flourishing among emerging adult college students. Further, the moderating role of an RDoC social process systems construct (social support) was simultaneously assessed in the direct association between ACEs and flourishing and the association between religious beliefs/spirituality and flourishing. Participants were 475 U.S. college students in the emerging adulthood period (ages 18–29). The moderated mediation analysis indicated that ACEs were indirectly associated with flourishing through religious beliefs/spirituality ( b = –0.19, Boot SE = 0.05, 95% CI = –0.30, –0.09), adjusting for covariates. Social support significantly moderated the direct association between ACEs and flourishing ( b = 0.02, SE = 0.01, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.04) but not the association between religious beliefs/spirituality and flourishing ( b = –0.01, SE = 0.00, 95% CI = –0.02, 0.00). Specifically, the negative association between ACEs and flourishing was amplified among students with lower ( b = –0.93, SE = 0.19, 95% CI = –1.30, –0.55) and moderate levels of social support ( b = –0.57, SE = 0.14, 95% CI = –0.84, –0.29). However, among those with higher levels of social support, the negative association between ACEs and flourishing became non-significant ( b = –0.21, SE = 0.20, 95% CI = –0.59, 0.18). Campus interventions that foster religious/spiritual engagement and meaning-making while strengthening social support networks, may enhance flourishing among emerging adult college students exposed to ACEs.