Linking positive childhood experiences to young adults' communication and problem-solving skills: The mediating role of self-confidence

Bilgin O., İnce M.

ACTA PSYCHOLOGICA, cilt.262, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 262
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.106029
  • Dergi Adı: ACTA PSYCHOLOGICA
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Periodicals Index Online, Linguistic Bibliography, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Psycinfo, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Positive experiences in early life stages are increasingly recognized as foundational elements that shape individuals' psychological resources and social competencies throughout adulthood. This study examined the impact of positive childhood experiences on young adults' communication and problem-solving skills, focusing on the mediating role of self-confidence. Participants included 696 university students (580 females, 116 males; M age = 22.1), who completed validated measures of positive childhood experiences, self-confidence, communication, and problem-solving. Structural equation modeling revealed that the influence of positive childhood experiences on communication and problem-solving skills was entirely indirect, fully mediated by selfconfidence, with no significant direct effects. Additionally, self-confidence significantly predicted both skills. A gender difference favoring females was found only in communication skills. These findings underscore the importance of fostering self-confidence as a developmental outcome of positive early experiences and contribute to understanding how childhood shapes essential competencies in emerging adulthood.