A long-term study of 1,420 people finds that childhood trauma is more commonplace than is often assumed, and that its effects upon the transition to adulthood and adult functioning are not only confined to post-traumatic stress symptoms and depression but are more broadly based. These conclusions were reported November 9, 2018 by a team led by 2009 BBRF Young Investigator William E. Copeland, Ph.D., of the Vermont Center for Children, Youth and Families at the University of Vermont. “Trauma” for the purpose of the study included violent events (violent death of a loved one, physical abuse or harm, war or terrorism, captivity); sexual trauma; witnessing a trauma that caused or could have caused death or severe injury; learning about a traumatic event involving a loved one; and other traumas such as diagnosis with a serious illness, serious injury, or fire. Published in Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, posted on https://www.bbrfoundation.org/content/multi-decade-study-found-childhood-trauma-exposure-common-raising-health-risks-adulthood.
For the full study: Copeland W, Shanahan, L, Hinesley, J, et. al. (2018) Association of childhood trauma exposure with adult psychiatric disorders and functional outcomes, JAMA, the Journal of American Medical Association, 1(7): e184493 posted at. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2713038