How Does Childhood Trauma affect Adulthood

Abstract

This review article explores the long-term effects of experiencing childhood trauma. Children who experience trauma, or adverse childhood events (ACEs), may not have the coping skills necessary to recover from the trauma, and contextual factors may contribute to the challenges of recovery. For instance, the quality of a child's attachment relationship with their caregiver can either set the stage for an easier recovery or can introduce additional challenges that threaten the recovery process. When ACEs are left untreated or the treatment has not been successful, children may experience symptoms of psychosis, may engage in excessive rumination, and may eventually develop depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The long-term effects of ACEs include threats to mental and physical health, as well as early mortality. This thesis explores the long-term impacts of ACEs as well as related topics, such as screening for ACEs and treatment approaches, while raising ideas for what direction future researchers should pursue.

Keywords: Childhood, trauma, mental illness, adulthood, ACEs, attachment style, and treatment.