Early Life Adversity and Childhood Maltreatment

A new study of Canadian couples found that greater childhood trauma predicted higher attachment anxiety, which in turn was linked to more intense negative emotions during sexual conflict. The effects were statistically weak but consistent.

A new study finds that emotional abuse and neglect during childhood are associated with more frequent nightmares and bad dreams in young adults. Rumination appears to mediate this link, and strong social support can weaken its impact on disturbed dreaming.

A recent study suggests that childhood trauma doesn’t end with the individual—it can influence the next generation. Maternal adversity was linked to children’s conduct, emotions, and cognition through economic strain, depression, relationship conflict, and parenting behavior.

Research on adolescents exposed to early trauma reveals impaired fear learning: those with childhood adversity showed less ability to distinguish safety from threat and were more prone to overgeneralize fear, highlighting a possible pathway to future mental health problems.

A new longitudinal brain imaging study in Brazil reveals that childhood maltreatment is linked to reduced volume in the right hippocampus—a key brain region for memory and emotion. This change persists through adolescence, even after accounting for symptoms of depression.

Creative brilliance isn’t always born in nurturing environments. A new study finds that early adversity may push children to escape into inner worlds where imagination thrives—sometimes sparking genius, but also leaving behind deep emotional and behavioral scars.

A new study finds that children raised in institutions show slower physical and brain development, especially if diagnosed with ADHD. Early placement into foster care helped, but delays remained—highlighting the lasting effects of early adversity on growth and mental health.

A new study suggests that growing up in unpredictable environments can shape how people relate to God. The findings show that early instability is linked to insecure attachment to God, which may reduce feelings of divine forgiveness and limit the...

Childhood trauma may reduce resilience and increase impulsivity, leading to poorer coping in young people with depression, a new study finds.

Experiencing childhood abuse or neglect may raise the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis later in life, according to a large study using UK healthcare data.

Childhood experiences with neglectful or controlling parents may shape adult personality traits that interfere with daily life, a new study shows.

In the shadow of Romania’s orphanages, science uncovered how early neglect reshapes the developing brain — with lasting effects on memory, cognition, and emotional health.

Early life stress may leave a lasting imprint on sperm, suggesting a potential pathway for the intergenerational effects of childhood trauma.

A new study finds that childhood experiences shape dark personality traits in adulthood. Adverse events predict higher psychopathy, sadism, and narcissism, while positive experiences reduce these traits—except in cases of extreme adversity.

For girls, early harsh parenting might impact brain circuits involved in emotion regulation, increasing the likelihood of behavioral difficulties later in childhood.