Early Life Adversity and Childhood Maltreatment

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.

New research reveals both genetic risk and childhood maltreatment are linked to adult ADHD. Genes may also shape a child's environment, increasing the likelihood of maltreatment, potentially via early ADHD symptoms.

Adolescents who experienced childhood trauma exhibited blunted cardiovascular responses to social stress, with smaller changes in heart rate and blood pressure. This diminished reactivity was linked to higher social anxiety

Youths with childhood maltreatment—particularly emotional and sexual abuse—experience more sleep problems, mediated by impaired emotion regulation strategies, such as reduced cognitive reappraisal and increased expressive suppression.

Childhood neglect, but not abuse, is linked to slower working memory development from adolescence into young adulthood. While executive functions improve generally, those neglected show a more gradual increase in working memory. This study highlights the unique impact of neglect...

Childhood maltreatment alone showed no effect on hippocampal size, but individuals with maltreatment and a romantic breakup had smaller hippocampal volumes, highlighting how later-life stress can exacerbate early trauma's impact on brain structure.

New research suggests that adverse childhood experiences increase defensive gun use by heightening sensitivity to perceived threats.

Childhood neglect is associated with worse physical and mental health in adulthood, but having a supportive adult in childhood and higher socioeconomic status is linked to fewer negative health outcomes, highlighting the importance of protective relationships and stability.