The investigation of relationship between childhood trauma and obsessive-compulsive symptoms

Abstract

Objective: Childhood trauma experiences are known to be associated with various mental disorders. Childhood trauma can lead to an increase in obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The aim of present study was to investigate the relationships between childhood traumas and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in university students. Method: In total, 201 university students (74 males and 127 females; mean age=21.83±2.01) were included in the study. All participants were assessed using a sociodemographic form, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28), Padua Inventory (PI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Then, statistical analyses were performed. Results: The impulse and rumination components of the PE, total PE scores, and BDI scores were higher in the group with high scores of childhood trauma than in the group with low scores according to the cut-off level on the CTQ. There were positive correlations significantly between the total scores of CTQ and ruminations, impulses, just-right subscales, and total scores of PI. In addition, there were significant positive correlations between the total score of PI and emotional neglect, emotional abuse, sexual abuse subscales scores of CTQ, and BDI scores. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the significant and independent predictor of the scores of contamination/washing were the emotional neglect score. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the childhood traumas, especially emotional traumas, may be associated with obsessive compulsive symptoms.