A Study on Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Resilience with the Role of Alexithymia Among Young Adults

Abstract

Children are always at the higher risk of experiencing trauma early. The current

study is conducted to explore the relationship between childhood trauma and resilience with the

role of alexithymia among young adults. Childhood is a crucial and very vulnerable phase for

humans, any disruptions or experiencing adverse situations can cause some dysfunctions or

traumas. Resilience is a protective factor against childhood trauma, that can be designated as

negative or positive based on the environment. A total sample of 91 young adults was taken from

Ludhiana, Punjab. The sample was given self-report questionnaires: Childhood trauma

questionnaire, Perth alexithymia questionnaire short form, Brief resilience scale. The results

showed that there is a positive correlation between denial and resilience, that means individuals

who scored higher in resilience also scored higher in denial. There is also a positive correlation

between emotional abuse and alexithymia. Individuals who scored higher in emotional abuse had

difficulty identifying feelings and had externally oriented feelings. Additionally, externally

oriented thinking is also positively correlated with resilience. The study also concluded that

children who used resilience as a coping mechanism had undergone adverse childhood

experiences. Alexithymia plays an important part in maintain resilience among children who had

gone through traumatic events in their life. Increasing awareness about emotions and trauma can

help young adults identify their emotions and recognize them, which can contribute to healthy

coping styles.