Abstract
Abstract:
Objective: Childhood trauma can have long-lasting effects on psychological well-being, including the development of self-esteem. Medical students, due to the high-pressure nature of their training, may be especially vulnerable. This study aimed to examine the correlation between childhood trauma and self-esteem among medical students in Pakistan.
Rationale: Understanding how early traumatic experiences influence self-esteem can inform mental health interventions and guide public health policies. While this relationship has been studied globally, limited data exists from Pakistan. This study addresses this gap by providing evidence from a South Asian context.
Method: We investigated the relationship of childhood trauma with self-esteem using the short-childhood trauma questionnaire (S-CTQ) and Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES) in a sample of medical students from Pakistan(n=270). This sample included both pre-clinical and clinical year students who voluntarily filled the questionnaires. These questionnaires were used to examine the correlation between childhood trauma and current level of self-esteem.
Results: Of the respondents, 16.3% reported low self-esteem. The most reported trauma was emotional abuse (29.6%), followed by sexual abuse (20%), emotional neglect (17.8%), physical abuse (9.6%), and physical neglect (7.4%). Significant associations were found between emotional abuse (p = 0.001), physical neglect (p = 0.003), and emotional neglect (p < 0.001) with low self-esteem.
Discussion: These findings emphasize the enduring psychological impact of early trauma and highlight the need for mental health support within medical training. Early identification and intervention strategies may help reduce the effects of childhood trauma and promote resilience in future healthcare professionals.
Keywords: childhood trauma; self-esteem