Association of adverse and positive childhood experiences with subjective age: findings from 5759 Chinese young adults.

The study sample of Chinese young adults had a mean chronological age of 19.3 years but perceived themselves as considerably older.

• Sample size was 5759 Chinese young adults
• Mean chronological age was 19.3 years
• Mean self-perceived psychological age was 26.9 years
• Mean self-perceived physiological age was 30.1 years
• Subjective aging was defined as the ratio of subjective age to chronological age greater than 1.5

The majority of participants reported positive childhood experiences, while a majority also reported adverse childhood experiences.

• 97.8% of participants reported PCEs
• 61.5% of participants had ACEs
• ACEs and PCEs were assessed via self-report

High ACE exposure was associated with significantly increased odds of both subjective physiological and psychological aging.

• Those with high ACE exposure (≥5) showed increased odds of subjective physiological aging (OR = 1.976, 95% CI = 1.608–2.429) compared to those with an ACE score of 0
• Those with high ACE exposure (≥5) had a higher likelihood of subjective psychological aging (OR = 2.009, 95% CI = 1.596–2.529) compared to those with an ACE score of 0
• These findings were from adjusted logistic regression models

High PCE scores were associated with significantly reduced odds of both subjective physiological and psychological aging.

• Individuals with PCE scores of 10 had lower odds of subjective physiological aging (OR = 0.417, 95% CI = 0.318–0.545) compared to those with lower PCE scores (0–4)
• Individuals with PCE scores of 10 had a lower likelihood of subjective psychological aging (OR = 0.586, 95% CI = 0.441–0.779) compared to those with lower PCE scores (0–4)
• These findings were from adjusted logistic regression models

Low PCE levels significantly amplified the effect of high ACE levels on subjective physiological aging, as measured by relative excess risk due to interaction.

• The effect of high ACE levels on subjective physiological aging was significantly increased by low PCE levels (RERI [95% CI]: 3.900 [1.059–6.741])
• Relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) was used as the effect measure for evaluating whether PCEs moderated ACEs' impact on subjective aging
• The RERI confidence interval did not include zero, indicating a statistically significant interaction

PCEs played a protective buffering role against the impact of ACEs on subjective aging perceptions.

• PCEs significantly moderated the relationship between ACEs and subjective aging
• Low PCE levels exacerbated the association between high ACE exposure and subjective physiological aging
• The authors concluded that PCEs have 'a protective role in aging perceptions'