The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Personality Traits Among College Students

Abstract

Childhood experiences shape who we are as adults. Among these experiences, trauma during childhood can leave lasting emotional and psychological effects. This study explores how different types of childhood trauma are related to personality traits in college students aged 18 to 24. A total of 130 students participated in this research. Standardized questionnaires were used to measure both the types of traumata they experienced as children and their current personality traits based on the Big Five model (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism). The study mainly focused on emotional neglect, physical neglect, and emotional abuse. Statistical analysis using Pearson’s correlation showed that emotional and physical neglect were strongly related to high levels of neuroticism (a personality trait associated with emotional instability) and low levels of conscientiousness (which refers to self-discipline and organization). These results suggest that students who were neglected as children are more likely to experience emotional challenges and struggle with managing responsibilities. Understanding these patterns is important because it can help universities and mental health professionals identify and support students who may be silently suffering due to past experiences.