Effects of Childhood Trauma on Adolescent Mental Health

Abstract

Adolescent mental health issues are being increasingly acknowledged, yet the bulk of adolescent psychological issues may be traced back to childhood. This literature review provides a comprehensive analysis of the association between childhood trauma and mental health disorders in adolescents. A systematic search of relevant terms including emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, physical neglect, non-suicidal self-injury, suicide, aggressive behavior, Internet addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and cognition was conducted. This review meticulously catalogs and discusses psychological disorders based on their specific classifications, resulting harms, association with childhood trauma, mediating mechanisms, and coping techniques. The findings from numerous pertinent journals and literature highlight a significant correlation between childhood abuse and neglect and various aspects of adolescent behavior, mood, and cognition. By a variety of intermediary systems, this association may be indirectly related. Treatment enables intervention and prevention of adolescent mental health issues. Several articles have demonstrated that childhood trauma has negative consequences on adolescent mental health. Unfortunately, there are research in this sector, and the majority of them is cross-sectional or has restrictions. Therefore, the contribution of this paper is to inspire readers or future researchers to further explore the effects of childhood trauma on adolescent psychology.