Childhood Trauma as a Possible Antecedent of Transliminality

Abstract

Previous theoretical and empirical work leads to a prediction that the developmental sequelae of childhood trauma may be risk factors in the development of transliminality. 106 undergraduate students completed the Revised Transliminality Scale and the Survey of Traumatic Childhood Events. In support of the prediction, scores on the Revised Transliminality Scale correlated .39 (p < .001) with the total scores on the index of childhood trauma. Follow-up analyses suggested that various sorts of childhood trauma could be interpreted for this group as related to transliminality: having one's house destroyed, robbed, or vandalized; being struck by someone within or outside the family; being yelled and screamed at by a caregiver; witnessing the physical abuse of a parent; and sexual abuse. Longitudinal study is required to sharpen evidence.