We conducted a cross-sectional study to measure the impact of childhood experiences on mental health and wellbeing among university students during the COVID-19 epidemic in Hong Kong. Students in a university in Hong Kong were invited to complete an online survey from October to December 2020. The 11-item adverse childhood experience (ACE) and 10-item benevolent childhood experience (BCE) questionnaires were used. Depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-rated health, life satisfaction, meaning in life, smoking, and binge drinking were also measured. Three hundred and thirty-two students completed the survey. A total of 71.4%, 12.0%, 87.3%, 24.1% of the participants reported ≥1 ACE, ≥4 ACEs, ≥5 BCEs, ≥9 BCEs, respectively. In logistic regression adjusting for age, gender, and marriage, ACE counts predicted poorer mental health and wellbeing, e.g. (0 versus 4+ ACEs, adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals)): depression 2.33 (1.04-5.22); anxiety 4.33 (1.90-9.86); loneliness 2.80 (1.15-6.82); poor/fair self-rated health 4.02 (1.82-8.91); low life satisfaction 5.18 (2.31-11.60); ever binge drinking 2.89 (1.20-6.93). BCEs were a protective factor for poor mental health and wellbeing, e.g. (0-4 versus 9-10 BCEs, adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals)): depression 0.23 (0.10-0.52); anxiety 0.30 (0.14-0.66); loneliness 0.07 (0.02-0.19); poor/fair self-rated health 0.07 (0.03-0.18); low life satisfaction 0.11 (0.04-0.26); low meaning in life 0.05 (0.02-0.14). Childhood experiences were related to mental health and wellbeing among university students in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 epidemic. This work suggests a need for program and policy solutions to prevent child maltreatment and promote BCEs.
