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Affective Profiles and Psychosocial Adjustment among Chinese Adolescents and Adults with Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Person-Centered Approach

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Qinglu Wu at Beijing Normal University
Qinglu Wu
Junfeng Zhao
Junfeng Zhao
Junfeng Zhao
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Guoxiang Zhao
Guoxiang Zhao
Guoxiang Zhao
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Xiaoming Li at University of South Carolina
Xiaoming Li
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PurposeTwo studies were conducted to explore the patterns of positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) while considering collectivist cultural specificity (dialecticism) and to examine the associations of affective profiles with psychosocial adjustment.Methods We used two Chinese samples, one comprising adults with adverse childhood experiences (N = 488) and one comprising ordinary adolescents (N = 635). The participants completed scales on PA, NA, and psychosocial adjustment, including mental health problems (depressive symptoms, anxiety), personal strengths (self-esteem, gratitude, resilience), and life satisfaction.ResultsThree profiles were identified through latent profile analysis: well-adjusted (high PA, low NA), low affective (low PA, low NA), and moderate affective (moderate PA, moderate NA). Participants in the well-adjusted profile had the fewest mental health problems (depressive symptoms, anxiety) and scored highest on personal strengths (self-esteem, gratitude, resilience) and life satisfaction. Participants in the low affective profile had fewer mental health problems than those in the moderate affective profile.Conclusion Individual differences and cultural variations should be considered when exploring affective profiles. Future interventions aimed at promoting affective well-being should accommodate dialecticism and individual differences in the target population.
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RESEARCH PAPER
Accepted: 4 August 2022 / Published online: 5 October 2022
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2022
Extended author information available on the last page of the article
Affective Profiles and Psychosocial Adjustment among
Chinese Adolescents and Adults with Adverse Childhood
Experiences: A Person-Centered Approach
QingluWu1,2· JunfengZhao3· GuoxiangZhao4· XiaomingLi5· HongfeiDu1·
PeilianChi2,6
Journal of Happiness Studies (2022) 23:3909–3927
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-022-00566-7
Abstract
Purpose Two studies were conducted to explore the patterns of positive aect (PA) and
negative aect (NA) while considering collectivist cultural specicity (dialecticism) and to
examine the associations of aective proles with psychosocial adjustment.
Methods We used two Chinese samples, one comprising adults with adverse childhood
experiences (N = 488) and one comprising ordinary adolescents (N = 635). The participants
completed scales on PA, NA, and psychosocial adjustment, including mental health prob-
lems (depressive symptoms, anxiety), personal strengths (self-esteem, gratitude, resilience),
and life satisfaction.
Results Three proles were identied through latent prole analysis: well-adjusted (high
PA, low NA), low aective (low PA, low NA), and moderate aective (moderate PA, mod-
erate NA). Participants in the well-adjusted prole had the fewest mental health problems
(depressive symptoms, anxiety) and scored highest on personal strengths (self-esteem,
gratitude, resilience) and life satisfaction. Participants in the low aective prole had fewer
mental health problems than those in the moderate aective prole.
Conclusion Individual dierences and cultural variations should be considered when
exploring aective proles. Future interventions aimed at promoting aective well-being
should accommodate dialecticism and individual dierences in the target population.
Keywords aective proles · emotion typology · dialecticism · psychosocial
adjustment · person-centered approach
1 Introduction
As an essential indicator of individual well-being (Diener et al., 2003), aective well-being
(e.g., happiness, positive emotions, and hedonic well-being) has received much attention
not only among the general population but also among vulnerable populations, including
adolescents and adults with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) (Chen et al., 2017;
1 3
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