Negative Beliefs in Emerging Adults with Childhood Trauma Experiences

Objective: The nature of one’s attachment with one’s primary caregivers shapes the internal working models of adaptive or maladaptive types of attachment with others as well as one’s attitudes toward oneself and others. Emotional abuse (EA) was considered one such disconnection in attachment and recognized as the most damaging traumatic experience that may impact one’s sense of self both cognitively, and affectively, therefore determining long-term serving coping style. Materials and Methods: The study aimed to explore the impact of EA in emerging adults approached through respondent-driven sampling. The Internet-based data collection design was deployed using e-consent, and data were collected using Google Forms from social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., The tools used were the General Health Questionnaire-28, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-25, Negative Core Beliefs Inventory, and Defense Style Questionnaire-40. Results: EA showed a significant positive correlation with psychopathology (somatic symptoms, anxiety, insomnia, and depression) and a negative correlation with social functioning. There were no significant differences between males and females on the assessment measures. Conclusions: EA is detrimental to any individual regardless of one’s contributing to negative beliefs about oneself and others, therefore increasing the likelihood of the use of neurotic defenses to cope.