What is Childhood Trauma?
"Childhood trauma" broadly refers to the psychological harm a person experiences during childhood or adolescence — harm severe enough to affect how they function in adult life. Most often, it involves a specific traumatic event, although some researchers believe that a child's upbringing, including inappropriate parenting or disciplinary approaches, can also be a source of trauma.
The most common traumatic events include psychological, physical, or sexual abuse. A child may also witness domestic violence, armed conflict, or sexual acts, or experience the loss of a loved one.
Consequences of Childhood Trauma
According to various studies, between 25% and 50% of all psychological disorders are linked to childhood trauma. It can stunt a person's development, undermine their sense of independence, and make it hard to form healthy relationships. People who have experienced childhood trauma tend to have more difficulty building social connections, maintaining romantic relationships, and achieving academic and professional success.
Could I Have Childhood Trauma?
Research shows that about two-thirds of all children worldwide experience psychological trauma that significantly shapes their later life and worldview. So chances are, you've experienced some form of childhood trauma too.
Childhood Trauma Questionnaire
One of the most widely used tools for assessing childhood trauma is the "Childhood Trauma Questionnaire" (CTQ; Bernstein & Fink, 1998, Bernstein et al., 1994). This questionnaire consists of 28 questions and has demonstrated strong validity and test-retest reliability. This test is based on the short form of the CTQ-SF, with several additional questions added to each scale to more accurately assess the severity of childhood trauma across five factors: emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, and emotional neglect. A sixth scale — adverse environment — has also been added.
