Early Echoes of Empowerment: Characterizing the Childhood Roots of Adult Sense of Mastery in a Cross-National Analysis of 22 Countries (in the Global Flourishing Study)

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.