A 10-Year Longitudinal Analysis of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Wellbeing: The Mediating Roles of EQ and SQ

Background and Purpose: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are well-documented predictors of negative mental and behavioral health outcomes. However, less is known about the long-term impact of specific ACEs on wellbeing during late adolescence and the mechanisms through which these effects operate. Drawing from a developmental resilience framework, this study examines how early psychological and social adversities influence wellbeing ten years later, with particular focus on the mediating roles of emotional intelligence (EQ) and social intelligence (SQ). Understanding these pathways can inform prevention and intervention strategies to promote resilience among vulnerable children. Methods: Data were drawn from the Longitudinal Study of Children’s and Adolescents’ Family and Social Experiences (LSCAFSE), a nationally representative study conducted in five waves from 2014 to 2023. The baseline sample consisted of 6,248 fourth-grade students in 2014 (mean age ≈10), with 1,158 participants completing the fifth wave in 2023 (mean age ≈19). Hierarchical regression models were used to assess direct effects of Year-1 ACEs on Year-9 wellbeing. Mediation analyses tested the indirect effects of ACEs on wellbeing through EQ and SQ. Results: Among the ACEs examined, psychological neglect (β = -.09, p < .01) and bully perpetration β = -.09, p < .05) at age 10 significantly predicted lower wellbeing at age 19. Other ACEs—such as physical neglect, psychological and physical abuse, and bully victimization—did not show significant long-term associations with wellbeing. Mediation analyses revealed that both EQ and SQ fully mediated the relationship between psychological neglect and wellbeing. Specifically, psychological neglect was associated with lower levels of EQ (β = -.23, p < .001) and SQ (β = -.20, p < .001), which in turn predicted reduced wellbeing (β = .17, p < .001) in late adolescence. Conclusions and Implications: Findings highlight the enduring impact of psychological neglect and social aggression (i.e., bully perpetration) on adolescent wellbeing. Importantly, emotional and social intelligence emerged as key mediating mechanisms, helping to explain the pathways through which early psychological neglect affects later wellbeing and partially buffering its long-term negative impact. These results underscore the need for school-based and community-level interventions that enhance EQ and SQ as part of trauma-informed care and resilience-building strategies. For social work practitioners and researchers, this study emphasizes the importance of early screening for neglect and integrating socio-emotional learning into youth development programs. Future longitudinal and intervention studies should continue to explore these mechanisms to inform evidence-based practices in child welfare and school social work settings.