Early Life Adversity and Childhood Maltreatment

Smart people tend to trust others more easily. But if you grew up facing economic or family hardships, your intelligence is far less likely to translate into this highly beneficial social trait.

Childhood abuse forces the biological clock to tick faster and curbs children's willingness to make eye contact, independent consequences that both track with higher rates of emotional and behavioral problems.

New research finds that individuals who experienced psychological abuse in childhood tend to report lower relationship satisfaction as adults. This link appears to be explained by a reduced sense of belonging associated with early emotional mistreatment.

Experiencing stress during early childhood physically alters the nerves in the digestive system. Recent studies reveal how this biological remodeling causes chronic gut pain and movement issues, paving the way for highly targeted new therapies.

Childhood adversity casts a long shadow on human health, elevating the risk of developing simultaneous physical and mental illnesses during adulthood. New research details how early trauma fundamentally alters long-term biological and psychological outcomes.

A new study explores the statistical links between childhood trauma, adult attachment styles, and sexual preferences. Researchers found nuanced associations between emotional insecurities and whether individuals prefer submissive or dominant roles during intimate consensual encounters.

Individuals with a history of severe childhood trauma who attended ceremonial psychedelic retreats reported marked reductions in anxiety and increased well-being. The findings suggest psychedelics could offer a novel approach for populations historically resistant to traditional mental health therapies.

A new longitudinal study reveals that Israeli adults who experienced chaotic, unpredictable childhoods suffered sharper spikes in psychological distress following the outbreak of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war.

A new study in rats shows how experiencing social isolation during adolescence directly changes the brain’s chemical response to alcohol, altering dopamine pathways linked to reward and aversion and paving the way for future substance use issues.

A large new study published in Biological Psychiatry reveals that childhood abuse and neglect are associated with distinct differences in adult brain structure. These physical variations are most pronounced in young women and differ based on trauma type.

New research reveals that adults who endured severe childhood adversity face a substantially higher risk of developing a combination of chronic physical diseases and depression as they age, highlighting the lifelong health impacts of early trauma.

Cannabis can trigger paranoia, but a new study finds that adults who experienced emotional abuse or a high-conflict childhood are uniquely vulnerable. Researchers discovered a toxic interaction where heavy THC consumption significantly amplifies the hyper-vigilance and mistrust caused by early...

Not all depression is the same. A new study reveals that depressed patients with a high genetic risk for bipolar disorder show a structural brain association with childhood trauma that closely mimics bipolar disorder itself.

Psychological stress from childhood adversity doesn't just affect mental health. A new study shows that trauma like family disruption physically damages the immune and metabolic systems of children as early as age 13.

A new study suggests that growing up in poverty accelerates biological development. For adolescent girls, this early onset of puberty provides a pathway linking financial hardship to increased anxiety, behavioral issues, and lower academic achievement.