*2.3. Statistical Analyses*

Participants were stratified as those with No ACE (0), Low ACE (1–3) and High ACE (≥4) based on the ACE Questionnaire. The mean differences between Time 1 and 2 were tested using paired t-tests, and Cohen's d effect size was also estimated (small = 0.20, medium, 0.50, large 0.80; (Cohen, 1988). Mixed ANOVAs (2 (Time) x 4 (ACE group)) were used for comparisons between groups and within groups on continuous variables (DASS-21, and WEMWBS), with multiple comparisons considered. Pearson product-moment correlations were used to determine associations between variables. Mediation analyses were conducted using Hayes [64] PROCESS macro for SPSS, to look at the effects of childhood stressors (perpetuating factor) and psychological flexibility (protective factor) on the longitudinal psychological outcomes of people during COVID-19 in terms of psychological stress (DASS-21) and wellbeing (WEMWBS).
