Assessment and Screening of Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) Alongside Childhood Adversity with Jill Merrick

This presentation introduces the Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) scale, a brief, culturally sensitive measure of positive childhood experiences that can be used as a counterpart to the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) scale (Narayan et al., 2018). We will review research on the role of BCEs in predicting adaptation over the lifespan and across generations in individuals experiencing high levels of risk and adversity, including parents in emergency housing and low-income pregnant individuals. Recommended strategies for the assessment and screening of positive childhood experiences alongside community health and primary care screening for childhood adversity will be provided.

Jillian S. Merrick, M.A., is a doctoral student in Clinical Child Psychology at the University of Denver and is currently completing her clinical internship at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. Her research focuses on the role of protective factors, such as positive childhood experiences and parenting, in promoting resilient outcomes for families experiencing adversity. She is also interested in how parents can capitalize on these protective influences to deter the intergenerational transmission of risk and shape a positive trajectory of intergenerational resilience for their children.

Merrick, J.S., & Narayan, A.J. (2020). Assessment and screening of positive childhood experiences along with childhood adversity in research, practice, and policy. Journal of Children and Poverty, 26(2), 269-281. https://doi.org/10.1080/10796126.2020.1799338

Merrick, J.S., Narayan, A.J., Atzl, V.M., Harris, W.H., & Lieberman, A.L. (2020). Type versus timing of adverse and benevolent childhood experiences for pregnant women’s psychological and reproductive health. Children and Youth Services Review, 114, 105056.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105056

Merrick, J. S., Narayan, A. J., DePasquale, C. E., & Masten, A. S. (2019). Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) in homeless parents: A validation and replication study. Journal of Family Psychology, 33(4), 493-498. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000521