Positive childhood experiences protect heart health
07/08/2024
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) contributes to a significant burden of disease worldwide. This makes the promotion of good heart health throughout the life course a major public health priority.
Experiences of childhood adversity has been linked to CVD later in life, but less is known about the more immediate effects on child heart health. On the prevention side of heart health, we understand even less about how positive childhood experiences (including for those living in adversity) might influence the cardiovascular health of children.
A recent study (supported by Prof Naomi Priest and the Australian National University) used prospective data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children to investigate whether childhood experiences—both adverse and positive—influenced the cardiovascular health of Australian children. The researchers measured cardiovascular health by looking at health behaviours (e.g. diet, physical activity and sleep) and health factors (e.g. body mass index, blood pressure and blood sugar levels).
Findings show that childhood adversity experienced from birth to 11 years, such as family violence and parental mental health illness, can lead to poor cardiovascular health at 11-12 years. Conversely, positive experiences, like warm parenting and a safe living environment, are linked to better cardiovascular health. Positive experiences may also help explain why some children thrive even in the presence of childhood adversity, with researchers finding that positive experiences could buffer some of the negative effects of adversity on heart health.
The findings highlight the importance of early life experiences to children’s cardiovascular health, particularly the protective role of positive experiences.
Public health programs should use strength-based approaches to support all children and families and to promote positive childhood experiences (e.g.,building healthy communities), especially those who are living with high levels of adversity, to improve cardiovascular health and prevent future cardiovascular disease. This research emphasises that by investing in the early years, Australia’s next generation can have a healthier future.