Relationships between childhood trauma level, self-efficacy belief and post-traumatic growth in university students

Within the scope of the study, it was aimed to determine the relationships between childhood traumas, self-efficacy and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in university students. In addition, another aim of the study was to compare childhood traumas, self-efficacy and PTSD among demographic characteristics groups including gender, age, mother's education level, father's education level, number of siblings, employment status and sudden loss of a relative in the past. The sample of this study, which was conducted with the correlational survey method, consists of 416 students studying at the undergraduate level of universities across Turkey. In order to collect data, "Personal Information Form" was used to collect information about the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, "Childhood Traumas Scale" to measure childhood traumas, "General Self-Efficacy Scale" to measure self-efficacy level, and "Posttraumatic Growth Inventory" to measure posttraumatic growth levels. The data were analyzed with SPSS 26.00 program and descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, regression analysis, Independent sample t-test and ANOVA and Tukey Test from Post Hoc tests were used in the analysis of the data. According to the results of the study, low level and negative relationships were determined between self-efficacy and all dimensions of childhood traumas (emotional abuse, physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect and sexual abuse). However, low and negative relationships were observed between all sub-dimensions of posttraumatic growth (change in self-perception, change in life philosophy and change in relationships with others) and all dimensions of childhood traumas. On the other hand, moderate and positive relationships were found between self-efficacy and all sub-dimensions of posttraumatic growth. In the regression analysis, it was determined that childhood traumas and self-efficacy had significant effects on all posttraumatic growth factors separately; emotional neglect decreased posttraumatic growth, while self-efficacy increased it. On the other hand, while childhood traumas had a significant effect on self-efficacy, it was determined that this effect was caused by the negative role of emotional neglect. The results showed the negative effects of childhood traumas and emphasized the role of self-efficacy and posttraumatic growth in reducing these effects.