Gender-Specific Patterns of Childhood Trauma among Undergraduate Students

Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23491589

Annie and Prachi Bisht (Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab)

Childhood trauma is an important concern in life of any individual. The resulting factors of trauma lead to disruptions in psychological, emotional and social development across the life-span. The present study aims to evaluate gender disparities in various dimensions of childhood trauma among undergraduate students. Data was obtained using a demographic profile questionnaire and childhood trauma questionnaire by Bernstein and Fink (1998). The data was examined using different statistical methods such as frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and z-test. The results suggested that majority respondents reported minimal level of childhood trauma across all dimensions. Significant variations were observed where females reported severe level of sexual abuse and moderate level of emotional neglect, whereas males reported severe level of emotional neglect. Analysis of mean scores further suggested that females experienced considerably more emotional abuse and sexual abuse than males. However, no significant gender differences were detected in physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect (mean scores), or overall childhood trauma. Although the general prevalence of childhood trauma was similar among males and females, substantial gender disparities were detected in specific forms of abuse. The study further envisages the timely gender interventions that can mitigate its long- term impacts.