Childhood Adversities and Thriving Skills: Sample Case of Older Swiss Former Indentured Child Laborers

Abstract

Objective: The study of life-long consequences of severe childhood adversities or trauma has recently received much attention. However, little is known about the subjective coping success and development of positively evaluated resources that may originate within these adverse experiences and may be conceptualized as thriving. This study set out to examine the relationship between thriving in response to early adversity and successful aging with a sample of former indentured child laborers in Switzerland (Verdingkinder).

Methods: Participants were screened according to subjective and objective health-related attributes, and those who were evaluated to be "successful agers" were included. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 former Verdingkinder (mean age: 71 years) that lasted 60-120 minutes. The interviews were analyzed using the paradigm model of the Grounded Theory.

Results: In the interviews adverse experiences and negative consequences were reported. However, where thriving was triggered in response to these experiences, the factors identified as "lightheartedness," "social purpose," and "self-enhancement" were associated with successful aging. Factors including motivation, reflection, personality traits, social support, individual coping strategies, turning points, and processing were reported as central to thriving.

Conclusion: The identified factors show similarities with established predictors of health and well-being. Thus, under certain circumstances early and prolonged adverse experiences can also provide the opportunity to develop positive resources for successful aging.

Keywords: Adverse childhood experiences; post-traumatic growth; qualitative study; successful aging; thriving.