The Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Externalizing Disorders
Start Date
April 2025
Location
MCD 130
Abstract
Emotional and behavioral disorders have become an increasing concern among children and adolescents in the United States, with an estimated 17.1 million children and adolescents expected to be diagnosed with some form of emotional and behavioral disorder (Farmer et al., 2020). The most common of these externalizing disorders are Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Conduct Disorder (CD), and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Childhood trauma is widely recognized as a significant factor contributing to these adverse behavioral outcomes. Research conducted by Ford et al. (2018) highlights that exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACE) can disrupt emotional regulation and impulse control, increasing the likelihood of aggressive, defiant, or impulsive behaviors in children and adolescents. Farmer et al. (2020) suggests that children suffering from these disorders often face poor school readiness, negative student teacher relationships, peer rejection, and academic failure.
Although trauma-informed care is increasingly implemented in clinical settings, there remains a need to further examine how trauma specifically relates to externalizing behaviors within real-world treatment populations. To address this need, this descriptive study will seek to describe the relationship between childhood trauma and externalizing disorders among youth served at Wasserman Day Treatment between 2024 and 2025. The results of this study aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of how early trauma may influence behavioral health outcomes. Additionally, the insights gained from this study may support the refinement of trauma-informed interventions and improve treatment planning for youth with externalizing disorders in community mental health settings.
The Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Externalizing Disorders
MCD 130
Emotional and behavioral disorders have become an increasing concern among children and adolescents in the United States, with an estimated 17.1 million children and adolescents expected to be diagnosed with some form of emotional and behavioral disorder (Farmer et al., 2020). The most common of these externalizing disorders are Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Conduct Disorder (CD), and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Childhood trauma is widely recognized as a significant factor contributing to these adverse behavioral outcomes. Research conducted by Ford et al. (2018) highlights that exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACE) can disrupt emotional regulation and impulse control, increasing the likelihood of aggressive, defiant, or impulsive behaviors in children and adolescents. Farmer et al. (2020) suggests that children suffering from these disorders often face poor school readiness, negative student teacher relationships, peer rejection, and academic failure.
Although trauma-informed care is increasingly implemented in clinical settings, there remains a need to further examine how trauma specifically relates to externalizing behaviors within real-world treatment populations. To address this need, this descriptive study will seek to describe the relationship between childhood trauma and externalizing disorders among youth served at Wasserman Day Treatment between 2024 and 2025. The results of this study aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of how early trauma may influence behavioral health outcomes. Additionally, the insights gained from this study may support the refinement of trauma-informed interventions and improve treatment planning for youth with externalizing disorders in community mental health settings.
