The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Well-Being

The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Well-Being Child abuse and neglect can have lifelong implications for victims, including on their wellbeing. While the physical wounds may heal, there are many long-term consequences of experiencing the trauma of abuse or neglect. A child or youth’s ability to cope and thrive after trauma is called “resilience.” With help, many of these children can work through and overcome their past experiences. Children who are maltreated may be at risk of experiencing cognitive delays and emotional difficulties, among other issues, which can affect many aspects of their lives, including their academic outcomes and social skills development. Experiencing childhood maltreatment also is a risk factor for depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders.We will look more closely at this when we examine mental health, social and emotional well-being, adverse childhood events, and trauma informed care.

Working with Children that Have Been Abused Children who have experienced abuse or neglect need support from caring adults who understand the impact of trauma and how to help. Adverse childhood experiences and trauma- informed care. Early childhood educators should consider the following suggestions:

 Help children feel safe. Support them in expressing and managing intense emotions. Help children understand their trauma history and current experiences (for example, by helping them understand that what happened was not their fault, or helping them see how their current emotions might be related to past trauma).

 Assess the impact of trauma on the child, and address any trauma-related challenges in the child’s behavior, development, and relationships.

 Support and promote safe and stable relationships in the child’s life, including supporting the child’s family and caregivers if appropriate. Often parents and caregivers have also experienced trauma.

 Manage your own stress. Providers who have histories of trauma themselves may be at particular risk of experiencing secondary trauma symptoms.

 Refer the child to trauma-informed services, which may be more effective than generic services that do not address trauma.