What is Childhood Trauma?
"Childhood trauma" is an umbrella term that refers to psychological trauma experienced by an individual during childhood or adolescence, significantly impacting their ability to socially adapt in adulthood. Most often, it refers to a specific traumatic event, although some researchers believe that the environment in which the child was raised, or even inappropriate parenting or motivational methods, can also serve as sources of trauma.
The most common traumatic events include psychological, physical, or sexual abuse. Additionally, a child may witness domestic violence, military actions, or sexual acts, or may experience the loss of a loved one.
Consequences of Childhood Trauma
According to various data, between 25% to 50% of all psychological disorders are in some way related to childhood psychological trauma. Childhood trauma negatively affects an individual’s development, their pursuit of independence, and their ability to form healthy attachment styles. People who have experienced childhood trauma tend to face more difficulties in establishing social connections, romantic relationships, academic success, and career development.
Could I Have Childhood Trauma?
Statistics show that about two-thirds of all children worldwide experience psychological trauma that significantly influences their subsequent life and worldview. Therefore, you are more likely to have some form of childhood trauma than not.
Childhood Trauma Questionnaire
One of the most popular tools for assessing the level of childhood trauma is the "Childhood Trauma Questionnaire" (CTQ; Bernstein & Fink, 1998, Bernstein et al., 1994). This questionnaire consists of 28 questions and has demonstrated validity and reliability in retesting. The test presented below is based on the short form of the CTQ-SF, but several additional questions have been added for each scale to more accurately assess the level of childhood trauma across five factors: emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, and emotional neglect. Additionally, a sixth factor—an adverse environment—has been included in the test.
