PTSD Symptoms and Quality of Life after Childhood Traumatic Experiences: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the relation between posttraumatic stress symptoms and quality of life in samples of participants exposed to childhood traumatic experiences. To test these relations, we conducted a systematic review of the literature on PTSD symptoms and quality of life. We identified 16 eligible studies that we included in the meta-analysis. Based on previous literature, we hypothesized that: (1) there is a negative relation between PTSD symptoms and quality of life; (2) the relation between PTSD symptoms and quality of life differs based on the type of childhood trauma and the type of trauma exposure; (3) the relation between PTSD symptoms and quality of life differs based on the dimensions of quality of life; (4) the relation between PTSD symptoms and quality of life vary according to gender, age, the region where the studies were conducted, the type of PTSD symptomatology measurement, and quality of life. The quantitative analysis was conducted using meta-analytic techniques. Results sustained the fact that there is a negative relation between PTSD symptoms and quality of life. Moreover, the relation between PTSD symptoms and quality of life depends on the type of trauma, gender, age, region where the studies were conducted, type of measure for PTSD symptoms, and quality of life. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.

Keywords:

• PTSD symptoms
• quality of life
• childhood trauma

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The dataset generated during the current study is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Cornelia Măirean

Cornelia Măirean, PhD, associate professor at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Department of Psychology, Iaşi, Romania. Principal research interests are in the fields of traumatic stress, risks and mental health, quality of life. She published as author and coauthor more than 50 studies in journals indexed in international databases.

Alexandra Maftei

Alexandra Maftei, PhD, is assistant professor in the Education Sciences Department - Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, “Alexandru I. Cuza” University, Iasi, Romania. Her current research areas include moral cognition and behavior, digital stress, and special education.

Loredana R. Diaconu-Gherasim

Loredana R. Diaconu-Gherasim, PhD, is a Professor at the Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania. Her research focuses on mental health and the impact of individual and contextual factors on the emotional development of youth.

Elena Diana Dodiță

Elena-Diana Dodiţă, MA in couples and family clinical assessment, counseling and psychotherapy. at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi. She is a clinical psychologist. Her research interest focused on trauma, loss and children’s mental health.

Maria Magdalena Abrăcel

Maria Magdalena Abrăcel, MA in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, is a clinical psychologist and trained psychotherapist specializing in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Her research interests include trauma psychology, personality disorders, and mental health.

Răzvan Constantin Lefteriu

Răzvan-Constantin Lefteriu is a graduate student of Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania. His research interests regard ethics and academic integrity, as well as higher practice standards in education and applied sciences, meaning of life, as well as the effects of nostalgic experiences on human productivity regarding day-to-day activities.

Vlad Ciofu

Vlad Ciofu is a PhD student in Psychology at Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania. He is Assistant Professor at Faculty of Law at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University. His research interests include stress and trauma, personality disorders, psychological well-being and mental health.

Corina Mioara Cioclu

Balanel Giulia, MA in Clinal Assessment, Counseling and Family & Couple Psychotherapy at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania. Her main research interests include attachment styles and possible related issues, children’s sexuality in relationship with childhood trauma; transgenerational trauma, childhood P T SD and potential consequences upon the adulthood.

Giulia Bălănel

Corina Mioara Cioclu has a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University. She is a supervising clinical psychologist and attends the training school in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies. She is interested in the imprint that childhood trauma leaves on future adults.

Andreea Popa

Andreea Popa, MA in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy associated with Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iasi, Romania, is a clinical psychologist. Neuropsychological evaluation and intervention of developmental disorders and associated conditions in children, teens, and adults represent her major clinical interest.

Radu Mihail Robotă

Mihail-Radu Robotă, PhD, is a Lecturer in Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, at University Alexandru Ioan Cuza of Iasi. He is particularly interested in personality assessment, child and adolescent psychological assessment, educational psychology, resilience and management of emotions.