Measuring Predictors and Prevalence of Benevolent Childhood Experiences in English Adolescents: Evidence from the #BeeWell Study

Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) are positive, everyday supports and opportunities that are theorised to promote adolescent wellbeing and buffer adversity. We used the youth-co-designed #BeeWell survey to provide the largest contemporary, population-based estimates for adolescents in England, examine social patterning, and test the latent structure of BCEs. Items were mapped to the 10-item BCE framework. We derived a 0–10 BCE count using prespecified thresholds for single items and data-driven cut-points for multi-item scales, and factor-based domain scores from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The analytical sample comprised 120,645 pupils from 291 schools. Regression models estimated associations with gender/sexual identity, ethnicity, special educational needs, free school meal eligibility, neighbourhood deprivation, and school year. BCEs were common yet unequally distributed. Prevalence was highest for free time (92.7%) and a positive home environment (87.1); the upper-tail rule yielded lower prevalences for multi-item scales (e.g., self-esteem 19.2%). The BCE count was approximately normal. In adjusted models, sexual and gender minority pupils and cisgender girls reported fewer BCEs than cisgender heterosexual boys. Socioeconomic disadvantage, special educational needs, and older school years were associated with fewer BCEs. Ethnic differences were mixed (Asian and Black pupils higher than White; Chinese lower). Factor analyses supported three domains: School Connectedness, Home/Community Support, and Psychosocial Wellbeing, with Parent/Carer relationships retained as a correlated observed indicator. A dual-metric approach, using counts for surveillance and domain scores for targeting, can inform policy and practice to strengthen belonging and trusted adult relationships in schools, sustain community provision, and reduce participation barriers for disadvantaged pupils.