Joseph Chang

“LITTLE ADVERSITY CAN BE PROTECTIVE There is usually no upside to serious childhood adversity, just suffering and greater risk for depression and anxiety later in life. Shorter telomeres, too. Moderate adversity in childhood, however, can be healthy. Adults who report having a few—but just a few—adverse experiences in their youth have healthy cardiovascular responses to stress. Their hearts pumped more blood and got them ready to face the situation; in other words, they experienced a vigorous challenge response. They felt excited, invigorated—so perhaps their early experiences had given them confidence in their ability to overcome obstacles. People with no adverse events actually did worse. They felt more threatened, with more vasoconstriction in their peripheral arteries. (Meanwhile, those who had experienced the most severe adversity had excessive threat reactivity.)25 We are not prescribing a dose of adversity for any child, just pointing out that it is common. If it happens in a moderate amount, and if the child has enough support to cope with it, there may be a benefit. Teaching children how to cope well with stress (versus protecting them from all disappointments) is the key. As Helen Keller said, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.”
― Elizabeth Blackburn, The Telomere Effect: A Revolutionary Approach to Living Younger, Healthier, Longer