A cross-national study of demographic variation and childhood predictors of traumatic distress

Traumatic distress is a major global public health concern requiring cross-cultural understanding. Using nationally representative data from the Global Flourishing Study (N = 202,898; 22 countries), we estimated country-specific prevalence of traumatic distress and examined 9 sociodemographic and 13 childhood predictors. Random-effects meta-analyses assessed cross-country variation and associations. Here we show that the prevalence of traumatic distress ranges from 16% (Poland) to 53% (Egypt). Higher prevalence of distress is observed among younger individuals, gender-diverse groups, those separated from partners, unemployed, less educated, those born outside their country and those who attend religious services regularly. Several childhood experiences at age 12 are associated with a higher risk of traumatic distress, including abuse, family financial insecurity, feeling like an outsider, parental divorce, and poor health. Childhood abuse is a significant predictor in 21 countries. Traumatic distress prevalence and predictors vary across countries and are shaped by both current sociodemographic and early-life factors. Many people experience frightening or life-threatening events during their lives, and some continue to feel distressed by them long afterwards. We wanted to understand how common this lasting distress is in different countries, and which life circumstances make it more likely. We analyzed survey answers from more than 200,000 adults in 22 countries who took part in the Global Flourishing Study. We found that the share of people still bothered by a past traumatic event varies widely across countries, from about one in six in Poland to more than one in two in Egypt. People who were abused, felt like an outsider in their family, lived with financial hardship, or had poor health as a child were more likely to feel this distress as adults. These findings can help guide support for children and adults in all societies. Sung et al. analyze nationally representative data from 22 countries and find substantial variation in prevalence of traumatic distress. Childhood abuse, poor health, feelings of being an outsider, and family hardship elevated experiencing traumatic distress as an adult.