Childhood Emotional Trauma Linked to Later Social Distress

Summary: A new study reveals that childhood emotional trauma increases social avoidance and distress in adolescents, but resilience can help mitigate these effects. Surveying 577 junior high students, researchers found resilience acted as a buffer, enabling traumatized teens to engage more positively with peers. However, adolescents who grew up as “left-behind” children — with absent parents due to work — showed weaker protective effects from resilience. These findings highlight the need for targeted support for vulnerable groups to foster healthy social development. Key Facts: Trauma Impact: Childhood emotional trauma predicts higher social avoidance and distress in teens. Resilience as a Buffer: Psychological resilience mediates and reduces the negative social effects of trauma. Left-Behind Vulnerability: Resilience is less protective for teens with left-behind experiences. Source: Neuroscience News Adolescence is a time of intense social development, where communication, connection, and understanding shape both mental and physical health. But for some young people, childhood emotional trauma casts a long shadow, making social interactions fraught with avoidance and distress.