The Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Mental Health in Indian Undergraduate Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Childhood trauma encompassing abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction is known to have enduring consequences on mental health, increasing susceptibility to depression, anxiety, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) across the lifespan. Despite the rising focus on mental health in higher education, research on the prevalence and impact of childhood trauma within Indian undergraduate populations remains limited. This study examines the prevalence of childhood trauma and its association with mental health outcomes in undergraduates, framed within a lifespan developmental perspective. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 410 undergraduate students (74.6% female; mean age = 20.57 years). Participants completed validated instruments: The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21), PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7). Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations, and multiple linear regression analyses were employed to assess the relationships between childhood trauma subtypes and mental health outcomes. Results: Emotional abuse (r = 0.507, p < .01) and physical abuse (r = 0.517, p < .05) demonstrated the strongest associations with depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. Emotional neglect significantly predicted depressive symptoms (β = 0.231, p = .002). Female students reported substantially higher PTSD scores compared to males (p