A Scoping Review of Positive Childhood Experiences: Measurement and Evidence

Positive childhood experiences are garnering increased attention, as they may prevent exposure to, and mitigate the effects of, adverse childhood experiences on development. While many studies around the world have used the Benevolent Childhood Experience (BCE) scale, the prevalent use of ad hoc measures increases variability in study methods, limiting comparability of study findings. We conducted a scoping review to summarize existing methods to measuring positive childhood experiences. A search of the PubMed, PsychINFO, and SCOPUS databases was conducted to identify relevant articles published from January 2010–May 2023. Sixty-six articles were included in the review. The BCE scale is the most used measure to assess positive childhood experiences; many ad hoc measures were based on the recently developed Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences framework. Included studies predominantly used a cumulative score to assess positive childhood experiences, and all found evidence of promotive and/or protective effects of positive childhood experiences on various behavioral and health outcomes. Taken together, findings reveal heterogeneity in measurement of positive childhood experiences, highlighting the need for consistent operationalization of positive childhood experiences. Agreement and consistency in the measurement of positive childhood experiences will improve interpretation of research findings and appropriate implications for policy.