Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been shown to have consequences for adolescent development, yet little is known about the association between ACEs and positive functioning. Positive functioning evaluates engagement, perseverance, optimism, connectedness, and happiness, which are intimately related to pro-social behavior. As skills associated with sociability in adolescence often carry on into adulthood, understanding the developmental origins in inequalities in pro-social behavior, as measured by positive functioning, is key to ensuring equitable life chances across the life course. Subsequently, the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS; n = 3444) was used to examine how early exposure to cumulative ACEs, plus the timing and duration of those ACEs may be associated with positive functioning development in adolescence. The sample consisted of urban-born youth (49% female) with the mean age of 15. Racial/ethnic breakdown of the sample is 18% non-Hispanic White, 49% non-Hispanic Black, 25% Hispanic, and 8% “Other”. Overall, estimates suggest that roughly 88% of these youth experienced at least one ACE by age five. The findings indicate that cumulation, timing, and duration of early ACEs are related to overall adolescent positive functioning and four out of the five domains (perseverance, optimism, connectedness, and happiness), even after controlling for more recent ACEs. This study highlights the critical impact of very early ACEs on youth positive functioning, which may confer further physical, mental, and social disadvantages into adulthood. Positive functioning can serve as a protective factor against some of the negative consequences of adversity, and ensuring that all families receive proper supports may limit the lifelong effects of adversity, and most importantly, prevent ACEs from occurring in the first place.

不良童年经历 (ACE) 已被证明对青少年发育有影响，但人们对 ACE 与积极功能之间的关联知之甚少。积极功能评估参与度、毅力、乐观、连通性和幸福感，这些与亲社会行为密切相关。由于与青春期社交能力相关的技能通常会延续到成年期，因此了解亲社会行为不平等的发展起源（以积极功能衡量）是确保整个生命过程中平等生活机会的关键。随后，脆弱家庭和儿童福祉研究 (FFCWS; n = 3444) 用于检查早期暴露于累积 ACE 以及这些 ACE 的时间和持续时间如何与青春期的积极功能发展相关联。样本由平均年龄为 15 岁的城市出生青年（49% 为女性）组成。样本的种族/种族细分为 18% 非西班牙裔白人、49% 非西班牙裔黑人、25% 西班牙裔和 8% “其他”。总体而言，估计表明这些年轻人中大约有 88% 在五岁时至少经历过一次 ACE。研究结果表明，早期 ACE 的累积、时间和持续时间与青少年的整体积极功能和五个领域中的四个（毅力、乐观、联系和幸福）有关，即使在控制了最近的 ACE 之后也是如此。这项研究强调了非常早期的 ACE 对青年积极功能的关键影响，这可能会给成年带来进一步的身体、精神和社会不利条件。积极的功能可以作为抵御逆境的一些负面后果的保护因素，确保所有家庭获得适当的支持可能会限制逆境的终身影响，最重要的是，首先防止 ACE 的发生。