Do Some Forms of Trauma Affect Us More Than Others?

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A recent study examines long-term effects of childhood trauma, specifically focusing on how various types of trauma, categorized by the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) framework, influence mental health outcomes.¹ This research, from the University of Wisconsin, challenges traditional views on childhood trauma, suggesting that different types of trauma may have distinct impacts on mental health and cognitive development.

Researchers analyzed longitudinal data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study to explore how different types of trauma may result in varying mental health outcomes as children grow. While all trauma types were linked to poorer mental health outcomes, there were some unexpected findings.

Some types of trauma may lead to different responses

Instead of viewing trauma as a singular category, researchers categorized trauma into eight distinct types: poverty, discrimination, family conflict, interpersonal violence, peer threat, community threat, caregiver maladjustment, and chronic pain/medical issues. They then analyzed their specific effects on mental health and cognitive development.

While all trauma types were linked to poorer mental health outcomes, some surprising results emerged. For instance, poverty and community threats seemed to result in fewer mental health problems, potentially due to adaptive coping mechanisms in children living with ongoing adversity.

The study found that different types of trauma—especially those related to family conflict and peer aggression—were strongly linked to both internalizing and externalizing mental health problems. In contrast, trauma from external sources such as poverty or community threat were found to have fewer internalizing and externalizing mental health problems, "potentially representing adaptive suppression of symptoms."¹

Trauma from one's family of origin may have more lasting effects

The research suggests that certain types of trauma may lead to different responses, which is contrary to typical assumptions that often held more linear and uniform views about trauma's impact. As a survivor of family of origin trauma, but also as a clinician who works with survivors, I am not surprised by findings that family-based trauma can have more lasting effects than external traumas. Family is typically meant to be a safe space, a foundation of support and love. When this safe space is disrupted through abuse, neglect, or dysfunction, it creates a sense of betrayal and has lasting harm. The absence of safety within the family often leaves deep traumas.

In contrast, external traumas, such as poverty or community violence, while deeply impactful, may be somewhat buffered by the presence of a stable and supportive family environment. From what I have seen in my practice, a safe and nurturing family can often help mitigate many of the long-term effects of external traumas and stressors. This distinction reinforces what many clinicians see as the critical role of the family unit in either reinforcing or hindering an individual's ability to cope with and recover from traumatic experiences.

Impact on healthcare and trauma informed care

These findings highlight that specific types of trauma may lead to different responses, offering insights that can improve trauma-informed care, especially for those of us in mental health. The researchers plan to continue their work, examining participants through adolescence into young adulthood, to better understand the long-term effects of various traumatic experiences.

The study's authors hope these findings will refine interventions by providing a more detailed understanding of how trauma affects children. However, the study also notes that these results are complex and may change as the children grow older. It might not necessarily be that family-related trauma always has a greater impact, but the pattern of responses can vary depending on the type of trauma and the individual child’s circumstances. More research and long-term data are needed to fully understand these relationships. While family-related trauma might have a different (often more enduring) impact, external traumas like poverty and racism are also critical factors, especially as children move into adulthood, and these should not be discounted by clinicians who work with trauma survivors.