Traumatic Experiences in Childhood and Adult Substance Use in a Nonclinical Sample: The Mediating Role of Arousal/Reactivity.

The vast majority of adults in the United States experience at least one traumatic event during childhood. According to the self-medication hypothesis of substance use disorders, adult survivors of childhood trauma may cope with trauma-related symptoms via alcohol or drug use. The purpose of this study is to identify through which specific PTSD symptom clusters childhood trauma exposure are associated with adult substance use.

The buffering effect of belonging on the negative association of childhood trauma with adult mental health and risky alcohol use.

More than half of the American population has experienced at least one childhood traumatic event in their lifetime, which can lead to alcohol misuse and mental and physiological health issues. A sense of belonging in close relationships is hypothesized to promote resiliency against the negative outcomes of childhood trauma experiences. Using a sample of 654 adults aged 26-40years old, this study examined the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and adult risky alcohol use mediated by mental health status and perceptions of belonging.