An Original Investigation of the Long-Term Psychological Outcomes of Childhood Trauma Among Adults in North East Nigeria

The long-term psychological outcomes of childhood trauma in conflict-affected populations of North East Nigeria have not been systematically investigated with longitudinal or prospective methodology, and characterising these outcomes and their pathways provides the empirical foundation for trauma-informed counselling programming across the life course. This study conducted an original investigation into long-term psychological outcomes of childhood trauma among adults aged 25 to 55 in Borno and Adamawa States, North East Nigeria. A life-history cohort design was employed with 400 adults recruited through community stratified sampling. Retrospective childhood trauma assessment (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire), current PTSD assessment (PCL-5), depression (PHQ-9), attachment (Experiences in Close Relationships), interpersonal functioning, and life satisfaction were administered. Structural equation modelling examined direct and mediated pathways from childhood trauma types to adult outcomes. Results showed that 61.5 percent of respondents reported multiple childhood trauma types. Physical abuse and emotional neglect showed the strongest direct effects on adult PTSD symptom severity. The path from childhood trauma to adult depression was fully mediated by insecure attachment in 72 percent of the variance. Interpersonal functioning difficulties were significantly associated with combined emotional abuse and neglect. Spiritual community participation significantly moderated the trauma-depression pathway, with active religious involvement reducing the estimated effect size by 38 percent. The study provides the first prospective-equivalent adult trauma outcome dataset for North East Nigeria and proposes an original Life-Course Trauma Pathway Model with specific implications for counselling programme design.

Keywords: childhood trauma, long-term outcomes, adults, North East Nigeria, trauma pathway model