Exploring the Impact of Childhood Trauma Profiles on Social Competence and Self-Stigma of Seeking Help in Early Adulthood

Abstract

Childhood trauma is widely recognized as a significant predictor of long-term psychological and social functioning. This study adopts a person-centered approach to examine how childhood trauma profiles relate to social competence and self-stigma of seeking help (SSOSH) among young adults. Using a latent profile analysis (LPA), we identified distinct trauma profiles among 109 individuals aged 18–29 years. We then examined differences in social competence variables (social isolation, social anxiety, and social adjustment) and SSOSH across these profiles. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the relative contributions of sociodemographic factors, social competence, and trauma profiles to SSOSH. Results revealed multiple trauma profiles that varied in type and severity of exposure. Significant differences emerged across profiles in both social competence and self-stigma levels. These findings highlight the value of understanding trauma through a developmental and person-centered lens, offering practical implications for designing tailored, stigma-informed interventions for trauma-exposed young adults.