The Impact of Childhood Traumatic Experiences on Self-Esteem and Interpersonal Relationships

Objective: Traumatic experiences during childhood have an impact on the emotional states of individuals during their adulthood. The impacts of traumatic experiences during childhood on self-esteem were examined in the present study. It was also aimed to examine the relationship between these traumatic experiences and interpersonal relation levels. Methods: This was a descriptive-cross-sectional study carried out during the dates of February 11, 2018 and March 11, 2018 on Gaziantep university students. A personal information form, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Scale of dimensions of interpersonal relationships (SDIR), childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ) were used. Multiple linear regressions were calculated to predict SDIR/RSES values based on CTQ values with confounding effects. Results: Of the 926 students who participated in the study, 712 (76.9 %) were female, 214 (33.1 %) were male. CTQ total was determined to be positively related with the empathy, trust, emotion awareness dimensions of SDIR and negatively related with approval dependence dimension. Empathy, trust, emotion dimensions of SDIR were significantly positive correlated with all sub dimensions of CTQ which are emotional neglect, emotional abuse, physical neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse. Approval dimension of SDIR was significantly negative correlated with all sub dimensions of CTQ.RSES total mean score was not determined to be related with CTQ total in our study, but a relationship was determined between RSES and only the emotional abuse sub-dimension of CTQ. The mean scores of RSES in individuals were determined to have a negative relationship with trust and emotion sub-dimensions of SDIR and to have a positive relationship with the empathy and approval sub-dimensions. Also ANOVA revealed significant associations between CTQ and SDIR total means after adjusting for education and economical levels and between CTQ and RSES total means after adjusting for Accommodation. Conclusion: Childhood traumas can have an impact on the interpersonal relationships resulting in a decrease in trust, low emotional awareness, increased approval dependence, and greater empathy in interpersonal relationships. Thelow self-esteem may affect interpersonal relationships resulting in lower levels of empathy, increased approval dependence, low emotional awareness and decreased trust. Improvement of positive parenthood and increase in the family-child interaction are effective and applicable methods for preventing abuse and neglect. Trainings on this subject are suggested since reliable-consistent relationships are important.