Date

1-14-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Mollie Boyd

Keywords

childhood trauma, adult survivors, mental health, trauma, maladaptive behaviors, disorders, abuse

Disciplines

Counseling | Psychology

Abstract

Childhood trauma encompasses experiences such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, experiences which have profound and lasting effects on an individual’s development and well-being. These behaviors can manifest in many ways. The intricate interplay between childhood trauma, mental health challenges, and maladaptive behaviors creates a complex clinical picture, often requiring specialized and trauma-informed approaches within the community. Understanding the efficacy of interventions tailored to this population is crucial for improving the quality of life and fostering resilience. Despite extensive research, there remain significant gaps in understanding the full scope of these effects and how to mitigate them. This study investigated the impact of 10 participants with a history of childhood trauma. The results of this phenomenology study revealed profound and lasting impacts across various aspects of the adult participants’ lives, including mental health struggles, substance use, maladaptive behaviors, emotional and social difficulties. The results underscore the pervasive and multifaceted nature of childhood adversity on the participants’ long-term well-being. The thematic analysis revealed several overarching interconnection themes. The findings reveal that childhood trauma profoundly shapes an individual’s mental health landscape, often leading to a spectrum of challenges including psychological impact. The conclusion from these studies results unequivocally underscore the pervasive and multifaceted nature of childhood adversity on adult survivors, highlighting the critical need for early intervention and trauma-informed care to mitigate these enduring effects.

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