The Association Between Childhood Maltreatment and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Among Young Adults in Northern Syria

<p dir="ltr">The impact of childhood maltreatment (CM) on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a unique and critical context in Northern Syria, a region that has been impacted by protracted conflict and humanitarian crises. Children in this region are at a higher risk of developing both CM and PTSD due to the pervasive displacement, exposure to violence, and socioeconomic instability. These associations are examined in this research, which illuminates the psychological repercussions of adversity in conflict-affected populations. (1) Investigate the prevalence of CM types among young adults exposed to the Syrian conflict; (2) examine the associations between CM exposure and the development of PTSD in young individuals. Syrian people who lives in Northern Syria. Individuals were asked to complete the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5). A total of 508 people filled out the questionnaire. 55% of the participants suffered from PTSD, also, there was a significant prevalence of childhood abuse among Syrian children (93.7%). From most common to least common, the CM among Syrians was physical neglect (99.4%), emotional neglect (98.8%), emotional abuse (83.1%), physical abuse (34.4%), and sexual abuse (16.1%). The findings from the logistic regression analysis indicated that experiencing physical abuse in childhood notably increased the probability of developing PTSD in adulthood (Odds ratio [OR], 0.7; 95% [CI], 0.6–0.8, <i>P</i> <.00). Furthermore, exposure to emotional abuse in childhood significantly increased the probability of developing PTSD in adulthood (Odds ratio [OR], 0.7; 95% [CI], 0.5–0.9, <i>P</i> <.01). Childhood exposure to sexual abuse significantly elevates the risk of developing PTSD in adulthood (Odds ratio [OR], 0.7; 95% [CI], 0.6–0.9, <i>P</i> <.01). Due to the significant incidence of CM and its robust correlation with PTSD in conflict-affected areas such as Northern Syria, urgent targeted treatments are essential. Treatment strategies should incorporate trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and community-based psychosocial support services that are available in humanitarian contexts. Prevention strategies are addressed in the research. One of the study’s limitations is that it employs a descriptive cross-sectional design, which does not infer causality. Future research could incorporate longitudinal or experimental designs to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the relationships between variables. Furthermore, the incorporation of qualitative methodologies could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms that underlie these associations.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma<br>License: <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0" target="_blank">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40653-025-00701-5" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40653-025-00701-5</a></p>