Relationship between the severity of violence experienced in childhood and adolescence with symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress disorder and self-attitude in adults

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition that can occur in response to one or more highly stressful experiences, often prolonged or recurrent, which the individual finds difficult or impossible to escape from. Exposure to various forms of abuse during childhood and adolescence significantly increases the risk of developing a range of psychological conditions, including depression, anxiety, self-esteem disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health issues. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between different types of childhood trauma, the manifestation of symptoms of PTSD, and the characteristics of adult self-perception. The study involved a sample of 133 participants who were members of online self-help groups.

Materials and Methods: ICAST-R (developed by Michael P. Dunne et al., 2006, translated and adapted for use by E.N. Volkova), the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ), as adapted by M. A. Padun et al. (2022) based on the work of Cloitre (2018), the Self-Attitude Questionnaire developed by V.V. Stolin and S.R. Pantileev (1985) and the Body Image Questionnaire created by Skugarevsky and Sivukha (2006). To investigate the impact of childhood experiences of violence on adult body dissatisfaction and negative self-perception, the study also employed a questionnaire on family emotional communication developed by Kholmogorova and Volikova (2017), as well as the Beck Depression Inventory, adapted by N. V. Tarabrina based on the original work of Beck (1961).

Results: among the two types of childhood trauma discussed in this study, emotional trauma has the strongest and most significant association with body image issues and low self-esteem in adulthood. While physical trauma also has significant associations, these are less pronounced. The negative effects of emotional trauma are particularly evident through its close link with post-traumatic stress symptoms. Conversely, emotional abuse in childhood has a highly significant, although moderate, connection with family communication dysfunction, characterized by excessive parental criticism.

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