Frank Kyei-Arthur, Nurudeen Alhassan, Sylvester Kyei-Gyamfi, Daniel Miezah, Sarah Rasby, Razak M Gyasi
{"title":"Enduring Trauma: The Lived Experiences of Female Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse in Ghana.","authors":"Frank Kyei-Arthur, Nurudeen Alhassan, Sylvester Kyei-Gyamfi, Daniel Miezah, Sarah Rasby, Razak M Gyasi","doi":"10.1007/s40653-026-00884-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40653-026-00884-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a major global public health, human rights, and social problem with adverse consequences on the health and well-being of children. This study examined the experiences of Ghanaian female survivors of CSA regarding the perpetrators of CSA, the reporting of CSA incidents, and their emotions/feelings after they were sexually abused. The study used secondary qualitative data from a larger study by the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection in 2018, which involved fifteen female survivors of CSA. The transcripts of the fifteen participants were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that perpetrators of CSA were persons closer to survivors, such as boyfriends, neighbors, siblings' friends, relatives, and class teachers. Additionally, while most participants reported their CSA incidents, others were unable to disclose those acts. Some survivors of CSA felt distressed when they saw perpetrators, while others felt anger, fear, and mistrust of men after their abuse. This study advocates for the development of programs that empower families to understand, prevent, and respond to cases of CSA. Also, there is a need to prioritize mental health support for CSA survivors.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"19 3","pages":"1887-1896"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13546228/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unpacking the Relationship between Sexual and Gender Minority Adverse Childhood Experiences and Psychological Distress: the Mediating Role of Self-Compassion and Fear of Compassion from others.","authors":"Han Chen, Eddie S K Chong, Randolph C H Chan","doi":"10.1007/s40653-026-00879-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40653-026-00879-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sexual and gender minority individuals experience higher rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) than heterosexual individuals. Yet, the general ACE framework ignores unique ACEs faced by SGM individuals (i.e., cisheterosexism during childhood). The Sexual and Gender Minority ACE (SGM-ACE; Schnarrs et al., 2022, 2023) framework fills this gap by accounting for ACEs that are unique for SGM individuals resulting from systems of oppression (i.e., cisheterosexism during childhood). However, past studies employing this framework were conducted in the U.S. context, limiting the understanding of the prevalence of SGM-ACEs and their associations with psychological outcomes in other contexts such as Hong Kong where LGBTQ+ policies and laws are still progressing. Furthermore, prior research has rarely explored how SGM-ACEs adversely affect psychological outcomes through impeding capacities for compassion of SGM individuals. Therefore, utilizing data from 736 SGM individuals in Hong Kong, this study addressed these important gaps by exploring the prevalence of SGM-ACEs and examined the association between SGM-ACEs and psychological distress among Hong Kong SGM individuals. Moreover, self-compassion and fear of receiving compassion from others were tested as mediators of the effects of SGM-ACEs on psychological distress. Results show that a large proportion of SGM individuals in Hong Kong have experienced SGM-ACEs (89.3%) and these traumatic childhood experiences were significantly linked to higher psychological distress in adulthood. Both self-compassion and fear of compassion from others significantly mediated this relationship. This study demonstrates the significance of considering ACEs specifically related to SGM identities. Findings offer critical insights into practice, clinical treatment, psychoeducation, and policies.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"19 3","pages":"1873-1885"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13546398/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Betteke Maria van Noort, Olivia Lucia Marie Emmerich, Laura Wolfermann, Laurence Reuter, Birgit Wagner
{"title":"Feasibility and Usability Study of an Internet-based Intervention Against Revictimization of Youth in Care and Care Leavers (EMPOWER YOUTH).","authors":"Betteke Maria van Noort, Olivia Lucia Marie Emmerich, Laura Wolfermann, Laurence Reuter, Birgit Wagner","doi":"10.1007/s40653-026-00886-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40653-026-00886-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Youth in care, either institutionalized, foster or adoptive care, or care leavers (Y-IC) are considered a high-risk group for (re-)victimization experiences. Repeated victimization experiences are associated with far-reaching negative consequences. The current study evaluates a newly developed internet-based prevention program against victimization, called EMPOWER YOUTH, in an uncontrolled feasibility and usability pilot study. A mixed methods approach was chosen to evaluate user experiences, usability, acceptance, and adherence, both qualitatively in focus groups and quantitatively via the following questionnaires: Perceived Website Usability Scale (PWU-G) and Visual Aesthetics of Website Inventory (VisAWI). A total of 38 Y-IC registered for the study, of which 21 (age <i>M</i> = 16.65 years, <i>SD</i> = 1.52, range = 14-21 years) participated in the baseline assessment. Ten participants took part in the post assessment, with a dropout rate of 41%. Usability (PWU-G) and aesthetics (VisAWI) were rated above average (<i>M</i> ± <i>SD</i> = 5.76 ± 0.84; <i>M</i> ± <i>SD</i> = 5.86 ± 0.52). Two main categories were derived from the focus groups (<i>n</i> = 8), with four subcategories respectively: a) motivation for participation, b) emotional experiences, c) cognitive experiences, d) behavioral changes and future-oriented experiences, e) comprehensibility of and satisfaction with the content, f) functionality of individual elements, g) evaluation of the intervention aesthetics and design, and h) recommendations. The feasibility of EMPOWER YOUTH was confirmed with a high level of acceptance by its users. Minor adaptations were implemented based on user feedback to prohibit high dropout-rates.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"19 3","pages":"1359-1369"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13546176/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lennart Bayer, Maike Cigelski, Justine Eilfgang, Frieda Mensing, Harriet Sewald, Isabelle von Seeler, Simone Pülschen
{"title":"Improving Teacher Education to Adequately Deal with Child Sexual Abuse - an Exploratory Study.","authors":"Lennart Bayer, Maike Cigelski, Justine Eilfgang, Frieda Mensing, Harriet Sewald, Isabelle von Seeler, Simone Pülschen","doi":"10.1007/s40653-026-00881-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40653-026-00881-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The prevalence of child sexual abuse (CSA) has remained consistently high for years. While children most often disclose experiences of CSA to trusted teachers than to other non-relative adults in their lives, many teachers report feeling unprepared to handle suspected CSA cases. Schools, too, note their uncertainty about whether to intervene and - when they do - which other professionals to involve at what stages of the process. Against this background, this paper aims to identify key CSA intervention training areas that can enable teachers to handle cases of suspected CSA professionally and competently. In contrast to existing research, which tends to focus exclusively on teachers, this Germany-based study draws on interviews with professionals from a wide range of institutions, including schools (<i>n</i> = 17), child protection services (<i>n</i> = 15), and law enforcement (<i>n</i> = 13). Significantly, all of the interviewees highlighted the need for improved teacher education on CSA intervention, with inter-institutional collaboration and knowledge of how to conduct an intervention being the most frequent topics of recollection among those interviewed.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"19 3","pages":"1847-1862"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13546253/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148900596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gordana Keresteš, Petra Kožljan, Ines Rezo Bagarić, Marina Ajduković
{"title":"Is this the Real Life? Is this just Fantasy? Croatian Adolescents' Health in Times when Earthquakes Hit in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic.","authors":"Gordana Keresteš, Petra Kožljan, Ines Rezo Bagarić, Marina Ajduković","doi":"10.1007/s40653-026-00889-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40653-026-00889-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 2020, Central Croatia was hit by three severe earthquakes which deepened the crisis that had already been induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined whether adolescents' COVID-19- and earthquake-related distress were associated with their physical and internalizing mental health symptoms, and whether parenting behaviors of their mothers and fathers moderated these associations. The sample included 362 three-informant families. Adolescents (<i>M</i> <sub>age</sub> = 15.14, 55.2% girls) self-reported their COVID-19- and earthquake-related distress, as well as physical and internalizing symptoms. Mothers and fathers self-reported positive and negative parenting behaviors. The results revealed that mothers' and, to a lesser degree, fathers' parenting moderated distress-health associations. Specifically, adolescents' disaster-related distress was associated with more symptoms only when paired with high negative and low positive parenting. Our findings suggest that interventions aimed at protecting adolescents' health in times of disasters should target not only adolescents' symptoms, but also parenting behaviors of their mothers and fathers.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"19 3","pages":"1347-1358"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13546181/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yoshitaka Iwadare, Naomi Yoshida, Takasuke Hayakawa, Erika Okano, Mari Kasahara
{"title":"Adverse Childhood Experiences and One-year Outcomes of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatient Treatment in Japan.","authors":"Yoshitaka Iwadare, Naomi Yoshida, Takasuke Hayakawa, Erika Okano, Mari Kasahara","doi":"10.1007/s40653-026-00887-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40653-026-00887-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are highly prevalent among youth requiring psychiatric hospitalization and are associated with complex clinical presentations. However, evidence regarding how cumulative ACE burden influences inpatient treatment processes and post-discharge outcomes remains limited, particularly in non-Western settings. This retrospective cohort study included 76 consecutive children and adolescents discharged from a psychiatric inpatient unit in Japan. ACE exposure was retrospectively assessed at discharge using clinician-integrated multidisciplinary evaluations based on the original 10-item ACE framework. Global functioning was measured using the Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) at admission, discharge, and at 6 and 12 months post-discharge. Multivariable regression and linear mixed-effects models were used to examine associations between ACE burden and length of stay, use of seclusion and physical restraint, longitudinal CGAS trajectories, treatment discontinuation, and re-hospitalization, after adjusting for sex, neurodevelopmental disorder status, and age at admission. Higher ACE scores were independently associated with longer hospital stays and greater odds of seclusion and physical restraint use. CGAS scores improved substantially from admission to discharge and remained above baseline at 6 and 12 months. In the primary analysis, ACE burden was not significantly associated with longitudinal CGAS scores. ACE burden was also not significantly associated with treatment discontinuation or re-hospitalization within 12 months. Cumulative ACE burden is associated with greater inpatient clinical complexity but was not significantly related to short-term functional trajectories or post-discharge outcomes in this study. These findings highlight the importance of trauma-informed inpatient care and continued post-discharge support for youth exposed to adversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"19 3","pages":"1863-1871"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13546278/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emma Rebecca Wallace, Siobhan O'Neill, Susan Lagdon
{"title":"Negotiating Multiple Minoritised Identities: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Intersecting Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours Among Transgender and Gender-Diverse Young Adults.","authors":"Emma Rebecca Wallace, Siobhan O'Neill, Susan Lagdon","doi":"10.1007/s40653-026-00877-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40653-026-00877-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Transgender and gender-diverse young adults, most of whom identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer, encounter considerable health, social, and systemic inequalities, leading to higher rates of trauma exposure, mental health difficulties, and suicidal thoughts and behaviours compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. The complex relationship between sexual orientation, gender identity, and suicide has received considerable attention, primarily from quantitative research focused on risk narratives, rather than an individual's lived experiences or specific healthcare needs. The aim was to explore the lived experiences of transgender and gender-diverse young adults, highlighting the impact of navigating multiple minoritised identities, exposure to trauma, victimisation, unmet healthcare needs, suicidal distress, and barriers and facilitators to accessing mental health services and gender-affirming care. Six young adults from Northern Ireland (UK) were recruited via social media and participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), following a process of coding, theme development, and interpretative synthesis. Five group experiential themes were identified: (1) Delicate peace, delicate progress; (2) Queer suffering, safety and otherness; (3) Queerness shaping ones' worldview; (4) Unresolved trauma, and unmet healthcare needs; (5) Suicidal distress, and recovery. The findings elucidated two central narratives; the psychosocial impact of negotiating multiple minoritised identities in a heteronormative and cisnormative society and navigating suicidal distress by regaining a sense of control over your life. The findings provide valuable insights into the unique lived experiences, and specific healthcare needs of this population. Clinical implications are discussed, including the importance of trauma-informed care, cultural competence among healthcare practitioners, and tailored suicide prevention strategies for LGBTQ+ youth.</p><p><strong>Supplementary information: </strong>The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-026-00877-4.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"19 3","pages":"1831-1846"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13546265/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ibrahim Aqtam, Mustafa Shouli, Saqer Al-Qoroum, Issam Ayrout, Khaila Shouli
{"title":"Lived Experiences of Palestinian Children Navigating Daily Life Under Curfews and Checkpoint Delays: A Qualitative Study.","authors":"Ibrahim Aqtam, Mustafa Shouli, Saqer Al-Qoroum, Issam Ayrout, Khaila Shouli","doi":"10.1007/s40653-026-00842-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40653-026-00842-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Palestinian children in the occupied Palestinian territory, specifically the West Bank, face unique challenges navigating daily life under military curfews and checkpoint delays. These experiences can significantly impact their physical, emotional, and social development, yet limited research has explored their lived experiences from their own perspectives. To explore the lived experiences of Palestinian children navigating daily life under curfews and checkpoint delays in the Nablus area, including the Old City, Huwara, and Balata refugee camp. This qualitative descriptive phenomenological study recruited 22 Palestinian children aged 8-17 years from the Nablus area. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions conducted in Arabic. Thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns and themes in the children's experiences. Five major themes emerged: disrupted routines and educational access, including school delays and interrupted learning; psychological and emotional impacts, encompassing fear, anxiety, and trauma responses; social isolation and restricted mobility affecting peer relationships and community engagement; adaptive coping strategies developed by children to navigate restrictions; and resilience and hope showed despite challenging circumstances. Children described feeling trapped, fearful, and frustrated, yet also showed remarkable adaptability and determination to maintain normal childhood activities. Resilience was specifically observed through peer-created safe spaces, cultural identity maintenance, and community solidarity networks. Palestinian children in the Nablus area demonstrate remarkable resilience while facing significant daily challenges due to curfews and checkpoint delays. Their experiences highlight the urgent need for child-centered interventions, trauma-informed care, and advocacy for children's rights in conflict-affected areas. These findings inform healthcare providers, educators, and policymakers about the complex realities faced by Palestinian children.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"19 3","pages":"1805-1819"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13546170/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Addressing Racial Trauma in Schools: Perspectives from Students, Parents, and School Staff.","authors":"Briana Woods-Jaeger, Kaitlin Piper, Amy Elder, Marcia Ash, John Gonzalez, Tiffaney Renfro, Marizen Ramirez","doi":"10.1007/s40653-026-00882-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40653-026-00882-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Students of color are disproportionately affected by racial trauma - the stressful impact or emotional pain that comes from experiencing racism. Interventions that address racial trauma in schools offer a promising approach to promote healing and prevent negative outcomes among students of color. This study aimed to examine the perspectives of teachers, parents, and students of color on ways schools can address racial trauma among adolescents and become more equitable in their policies and practices. We conducted nine focus groups at three racially and ethnically diverse middle schools in the Midwest of the United States. Participants were asked open-ended questions about trauma and racism experienced by adolescents in their community, psychosocial consequences of trauma and racism, and availability of school and community services to address these experiences. Participants were also asked questions to inform intervention strategies to address racial trauma among adolescents. Separate focus groups were conducted with parents (<i>N</i> = 12), students (<i>N</i> = 24), and school staff (<i>N</i> = 27). Thematic analysis was conducted to identify priorities for racial trauma interventions in schools. The following themes were identified reflecting priority areas to address racial trauma among adolescents in schools: (1) the criminalization of students and families of color; (2) race-based violence; (3) exclusionary practices; and (4) lack of representation in staff and curriculum. Through centering the lived experiences of those most impacted by racial trauma the current study identifies the importance of multi-level intervention strategies that include changing specific school policies and practices that are needed to mitigate racial trauma in schools.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"19 3","pages":"1821-1830"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13546205/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Childhood Trauma and Social Skills in Residential Care Youth: the Roles of Coping Strategies and Self-efficacy.","authors":"Mălina-Ionela Corlătianu, Cornelia Măirean","doi":"10.1007/s40653-026-00875-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40653-026-00875-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study explored how childhood traumatic experiences, such as abuse and neglect, are related to perceived poor social skills. It also examined how coping strategies and self-efficacy may moderate that relationship. The sample consisted of 214 participants (55.6% girls; Mage = 15.27) living in residential care in Romania. The length of time spent in the residential care center varies between one month and 16 years, with a mean of 4.81 years (<i>SD</i> = 3.80). Participants completed measures assessing traumatic experiences, perceived social skills, coping strategies, and self-efficacy. Path analysis showed that traumatic experiences and maladaptive coping strategies positively predicted, while adaptive coping strategies negatively predicted perceived poor social skills. This relationship was moderated only by self-efficacy. When self‑efficacy was high, participants with high levels of traumatic experiences also reported higher levels of perceived poor social skills. Among participants with minimal trauma exposure, low self-efficacy was still associated with poorer social skills. Lacking confidence in one's ability to manage social situations can be a barrier to healthy interpersonal functioning, even without a history of significant trauma. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening adaptive coping and building self-efficacy in all children. Both are associated with stronger socio-emotional development and show different patterns of association with adversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":44763,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma","volume":"19 3","pages":"1791-1804"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13546259/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}