Characterizing the childhood roots of adult sense of mastery across 22 countries in the global flourishing study
Abstract How might we cultivate a life imbued with a sense of mastery? An expanding body of research demonstrates that a heightened sense of mastery improves health and well-being outcomes. Despite this, it remains unclear which childhood factors foster increased mastery in adulthood. Further, exist...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03045-0 |
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| author | Eric S. Kim Matt Bradshaw Ying Chen William J. Chopik Sakurako S. Okuzono Renae Wilkinson R. Noah Padgett Margie E. Lachman Byron R. Johnson Tyler J. VanderWeele |
| author_facet | Eric S. Kim Matt Bradshaw Ying Chen William J. Chopik Sakurako S. Okuzono Renae Wilkinson R. Noah Padgett Margie E. Lachman Byron R. Johnson Tyler J. VanderWeele |
| author_sort | Eric S. Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract How might we cultivate a life imbued with a sense of mastery? An expanding body of research demonstrates that a heightened sense of mastery improves health and well-being outcomes. Despite this, it remains unclear which childhood factors foster increased mastery in adulthood. Further, existing studies have examined this question only within single countries. We analyzed nationally representative data from 22 countries in the Global Flourishing Study (N = 202,898) and evaluated if 11 aspects of a child’s upbringing predict mastery in adulthood, and also whether these associations vary by country. Some childhood factors were associated with increased mastery in adulthood, including good health, good relationships with mothers and fathers, economic stability, and regular religious service attendance. Childhood factors associated with decreased mastery in adulthood included abuse, feeling like an outsider in one’s family, poor health, economic hardship, and being female. However, there was little evidence that parent marital status or immigration status in childhood were associated with mastery in adulthood. Our meta-analysis also revealed substantial heterogeneity in childhood pathways to adult mastery across 22 countries. With further research, these findings could inform the development of globally adaptable, yet locally nuanced, programs and policies designed to foster a mastery across the globe. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5d2be5dd587b4ec2bea8be463706e120 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-5d2be5dd587b4ec2bea8be463706e1202025-08-20T03:16:31ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-03045-0Characterizing the childhood roots of adult sense of mastery across 22 countries in the global flourishing studyEric S. Kim0Matt Bradshaw1Ying Chen2William J. Chopik3Sakurako S. Okuzono4Renae Wilkinson5R. Noah Padgett6Margie E. Lachman7Byron R. Johnson8Tyler J. VanderWeele9Department of Psychology, University of British ColumbiaInstitute for Studies of Religion, Baylor UniversityHuman Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Michigan State UniversityDepartment of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthHuman Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard UniversityHuman Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Brandeis UniversityHuman Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard UniversityHuman Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard UniversityAbstract How might we cultivate a life imbued with a sense of mastery? An expanding body of research demonstrates that a heightened sense of mastery improves health and well-being outcomes. Despite this, it remains unclear which childhood factors foster increased mastery in adulthood. Further, existing studies have examined this question only within single countries. We analyzed nationally representative data from 22 countries in the Global Flourishing Study (N = 202,898) and evaluated if 11 aspects of a child’s upbringing predict mastery in adulthood, and also whether these associations vary by country. Some childhood factors were associated with increased mastery in adulthood, including good health, good relationships with mothers and fathers, economic stability, and regular religious service attendance. Childhood factors associated with decreased mastery in adulthood included abuse, feeling like an outsider in one’s family, poor health, economic hardship, and being female. However, there was little evidence that parent marital status or immigration status in childhood were associated with mastery in adulthood. Our meta-analysis also revealed substantial heterogeneity in childhood pathways to adult mastery across 22 countries. With further research, these findings could inform the development of globally adaptable, yet locally nuanced, programs and policies designed to foster a mastery across the globe.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03045-0 |
| spellingShingle | Eric S. Kim Matt Bradshaw Ying Chen William J. Chopik Sakurako S. Okuzono Renae Wilkinson R. Noah Padgett Margie E. Lachman Byron R. Johnson Tyler J. VanderWeele Characterizing the childhood roots of adult sense of mastery across 22 countries in the global flourishing study Scientific Reports |
| title | Characterizing the childhood roots of adult sense of mastery across 22 countries in the global flourishing study |
| title_full | Characterizing the childhood roots of adult sense of mastery across 22 countries in the global flourishing study |
| title_fullStr | Characterizing the childhood roots of adult sense of mastery across 22 countries in the global flourishing study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterizing the childhood roots of adult sense of mastery across 22 countries in the global flourishing study |
| title_short | Characterizing the childhood roots of adult sense of mastery across 22 countries in the global flourishing study |
| title_sort | characterizing the childhood roots of adult sense of mastery across 22 countries in the global flourishing study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03045-0 |
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