The relationship between childhood trauma and adult neuroticism: s systematic review and meta-analysis
The relationship between childhood trauma and adult neuroticism: s systematic review and meta-analysis
Childhood trauma has been consistently associated with elevated levels of neuroticism in adulthood, a transdiagnostic trait marked by emotional instability, heightened negative affect, and stress sensitivity. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesise evidence examining the association between childhood trauma and adult neuroticism, both overall and by specific trauma subtypes. A comprehensive search of four electronic databases identified 136 eligible studies, encompassing a total of 526,371 individuals. Using a random-effects meta-analysis, results revealed a significant positive association between childhood trauma and adult neuroticism (g = 0.46). The strength of the association between neuroticism and the different trauma subtype varied. The strongest association was observed for emotional neglect (g = 0.40), followed by emotional abuse (g = 0.33). In addition, there were associations between neuroticism and physical abuse (g = 0.18), physical neglect (g = 0.15), sexual abuse (g = 0.22), unspecified abuse (g = 0.13), and victimisation (g = 0.21), with the exception of unspecified neglect, which showed no significant association. These findings demonstrate a robust relationship between early adversity and neuroticism. Childhood trauma may lead to adaptions that give rise to neuroticism through several psychological mechanisms such as disruptions in attachment and the formation of negative self-beliefs, and neurobiological alterations in stress regulation systems. These results underscore the importance of systemic preventative measures and early intervention strategies that may alleviate the psychological and neurobiological consequences of trauma, with the potential to increase awareness of adaptions such as neuroticism in trauma-exposed populations.
Rosenek, Norma Rosanna
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Wake, Shannon
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Runton, Rachel
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Davies, Amber
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Albaroudi, Nur
eaa31d5d-f06c-454b-95d3-e57d2bb12071
Pollen, Abigail
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Ellett, Lyn
96482ea6-04b6-4a50-a7ec-ae0a3abc20ca
Morriss, Jayne
a6005806-07cf-4283-8766-900003a7306f
19 January 2026
Rosenek, Norma Rosanna
91538251-22a6-4e34-955e-f0ba50c89e8c
Wake, Shannon
b0425fcc-1bc7-4982-add5-e8affb055d50
Runton, Rachel
a228bcf2-d7b4-441d-babe-577103548a62
Davies, Amber
7622b9ba-5192-4944-b30f-3c03cf4edd19
Albaroudi, Nur
eaa31d5d-f06c-454b-95d3-e57d2bb12071
Pollen, Abigail
45c2c616-5d63-44ee-b08f-f29f3d126194
Ellett, Lyn
96482ea6-04b6-4a50-a7ec-ae0a3abc20ca
Morriss, Jayne
a6005806-07cf-4283-8766-900003a7306f
Rosenek, Norma Rosanna, Wake, Shannon, Runton, Rachel, Davies, Amber, Albaroudi, Nur, Pollen, Abigail, Ellett, Lyn and Morriss, Jayne
(2026)
The relationship between childhood trauma and adult neuroticism: s systematic review and meta-analysis.
Clinical Psychology Review, 124.
(doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2026.102700).
Abstract
Childhood trauma has been consistently associated with elevated levels of neuroticism in adulthood, a transdiagnostic trait marked by emotional instability, heightened negative affect, and stress sensitivity. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesise evidence examining the association between childhood trauma and adult neuroticism, both overall and by specific trauma subtypes. A comprehensive search of four electronic databases identified 136 eligible studies, encompassing a total of 526,371 individuals. Using a random-effects meta-analysis, results revealed a significant positive association between childhood trauma and adult neuroticism (g = 0.46). The strength of the association between neuroticism and the different trauma subtype varied. The strongest association was observed for emotional neglect (g = 0.40), followed by emotional abuse (g = 0.33). In addition, there were associations between neuroticism and physical abuse (g = 0.18), physical neglect (g = 0.15), sexual abuse (g = 0.22), unspecified abuse (g = 0.13), and victimisation (g = 0.21), with the exception of unspecified neglect, which showed no significant association. These findings demonstrate a robust relationship between early adversity and neuroticism. Childhood trauma may lead to adaptions that give rise to neuroticism through several psychological mechanisms such as disruptions in attachment and the formation of negative self-beliefs, and neurobiological alterations in stress regulation systems. These results underscore the importance of systemic preventative measures and early intervention strategies that may alleviate the psychological and neurobiological consequences of trauma, with the potential to increase awareness of adaptions such as neuroticism in trauma-exposed populations.
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Accepted/In Press date: 9 January 2026
e-pub ahead of print date: 10 January 2026
Published date: 19 January 2026
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Local EPrints ID: 509083
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/509083
ISSN: 0272-7358
PURE UUID: 2edd6314-06cc-4e9e-8a2a-d9cfd4bed376
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Date deposited: 11 Feb 2026 17:35
Last modified: 12 Feb 2026 03:14
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Contributors
Author:
Norma Rosanna Rosenek
Author:
Shannon Wake
Author:
Rachel Runton
Author:
Amber Davies
Author:
Nur Albaroudi
Author:
Abigail Pollen
Author:
Jayne Morriss
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