The Effects of Childhood Trauma on Emotional Regulation and Psychological Well Being in Young Adults

Abstract

This study investigates the enduring influence of childhood trauma on emotional regulation and psychological well-being in a model of 150 participants aged 18 to 35. The study utilizes three established questionnaires: the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale (DERS), and the Psychological Well-being Scale (PWB). Findings reveal significant correlations between emotional regulation and various types of childhood trauma across different life stages, with distinct traumas surfacing notably in the late 20s or early 30s. Negative correlations persistently link demonstrative abuse, emotional abandonment, corporeal abuse, and voluptuous abuse with emotional regulation sub-scales, highlighting the nuanced relationships at different ages. Furthermore, individuals with a history of childhood trauma exhibit lower and less adaptive psychological well-being, with specific sub-scales displaying negative correlations. The study upholds three hypotheses, affirming that childhood trauma significantly influences an individual's self-concept, emotional regulation skills, and psychological well-being.