Long term impact of child abuse in university students

Abstract Background A growing body of research underscores the detrimental impact of child maltreatment on a child’s development. Encompassing a wide range of actions by caregivers that significantly impede optimal development and violate societal norms, child maltreatment can manifest in various forms, including neglect of physical, cognitive, emotional, and social needs. Accordingly, this study aimed to describe the self-reported psychological, social, and physical sequelae reported by Egyptian university students with histories of childhood maltreatment. Methods Employing a cross-sectional design, researchers conducted the study over a six-month period. Participants completed self-report questionnaires in the presence of research team members. The questionnaires were designed to assess the type of child abuse experienced, along with its long-term physical, social, and psycho-behavioral effects. Results The findings describe a high prevalence of self-reported psycho-behavioral and physical health difficulties among university students with histories of childhood maltreatment. Specifically, participants reported experiencing symptoms of generalized anxiety, low self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Notably, gastrointestinal problems emerged as the primary physical health concern reported among participants with histories of childhood maltreatment. Conclusion This study describes a substantial burden of self-reported psychological and physical difficulties among university students with histories of childhood maltreatment. Because the study was descriptive, cross-sectional, and based on a non-validated self-report questionnaire, further research using validated measures and more rigorous designs is needed. Trial registration The study was retrospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier NCT06366126 on April 10, 2024.