Childhood Trauma and Epigenetic Markers: Revealing Leads to Adult Mental Health

Abstract The study explored the relationship between childhood trauma and epigenetic markers and how these processes were perceived to influence adult mental health outcomes. Childhood trauma has been widely associated with long-term psychological disorders; however, there remains limited qualitative understanding of how early adverse experiences are internalised and interpreted as having lasting biological and psychological effects. The study adopted a qualitative research approach, using an interpretive phenomenological design to capture the lived experiences of adults with a history of childhood trauma. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with adults aged 25 years and above who reported exposure to adverse childhood experiences. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data and identify recurring patterns of meaning across participants’ narratives. The findings revealed that childhood trauma was experienced as having enduring emotional and psychological consequences, including altered stress responses, emotional dysregulation, and increased vulnerability to mental health challenges in adulthood. Participants also described perceived bodily and internal changes, suggesting an intuitive awareness of the biological embedding of early trauma. The study further found that meaning-making and increased awareness of trauma’s long-term effects played a role in coping and psychological adjustment. The study concluded that childhood trauma may become embedded within psychological and biological systems, shaping adult mental health outcomes. The findings highlight the importance of trauma-informed mental health interventions that integrate psychological and biological perspectives.