Childhood or Developmental Trauma

Childhood trauma results from emotionally painful or distressful events experienced or witnessed by a child. Children can experience traumatic stress reactions that persist and interfere with daily life and ability to function and interact with others, long after the traumatic event ends. These can be categorized either as traumatic events/non-interpersonal trauma or interpersonal trauma. Research shows nearly half of all U.S. children are exposed to at least one traumatic social or family experience. The renowned Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE, 2002) studies showed how common it is, with negative impact on adult health 50 years later. 1/5 reported at least 3 of the following ACE categories:

• 30% parental substance use
• 27% physical abuse
• 25% sexual abuse
• 25% parental separation or divorce
• 23% mental illness
• 17% emotional neglect
• 14% mother treated violently
• 13% emotional abuse
• 9%  physical neglect
• 5%  family member in prison (CDC, 2016)
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