A Qualitative Study on External Resources and Post-Traumatic Growth in the Lived Experiences of Emerging Adults with Childhood Trauma in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

The exposure of childhood trauma is widespread in societies globally. Despite exhaustive research on post-traumatic stress disorder following these traumas, less is known about the post-traumatic growth that can transpire from such experiences. Thus, this study seeks to explore the various external resources utilised to achieve post-traumatic growth by emerging adults with childhood trauma and provide an in-depth exploration of their lived experiences in Klang Valley, Malaysia. This study employed a phenomenological approach within a basic qualitative research design. Eight participants aged between 18 and 29 were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling methods, and one-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather the data. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts verbatim revealed five emerging themes: (1) Social Support: encompassing social networks and professional services; (2) Creative Outlet: entails activities like journalling and other personal hobbies, (3) Catalyst for Change: refers to the facilitation of progress and adaptation to make meaningful changes despite challenges, (4) Protective Factor: highlights elements that safeguard individuals through healthy coping mechanisms, and (5) Setback in Seeking Support: identifying barriers such as stigma and financial limitations. The findings may help educate counsellors in providing tailored programs that support individuals who may need assistance in emotional adjustment and facilitate effective coping with trauma-related challenges. A key limitation is the potential bias from retrospective reporting, as participants’ recollections may be influenced by hindsight and memory biases when reflecting on past events. To address this issue, conducting longitudinal studies would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the lived experiences of individuals with childhood trauma.