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BENCHMARK ESSAY: TRAUMA
BENCHMARK ESSAY: TRAUMA, DEVELOPMENT, AND SPIRITUALITY
ASSIGNMENT
J B
Liberty University
COUC 502 Human Growth and Development
Dr. Charity Kurz
November 12, 2023
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BENCHMARK ESSAY: TRAUMA
Abstract
Childhood is supposed to be a time when children are living freely and enjoying their
years of being children. Unfortunately, this is not the case for all children. Some children have
been affected by trauma at some point during their lives. In this essay, I will discuss trauma and
resilience, how trauma affects development, and what might be the determining factors that lead
to developmental delays when a child is exposed to trauma. I will also discuss what research
says about spiritual development’s effect on resilience and countering the effects of trauma.
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BENCHMARK ESSAY: TRAUMA
Trauma and its Effects on Development
Trauma is life-related experiences or events that cause some type of harm to a person’s
well-being. Trauma has negative effects on a person’s development. Trauma can affect a person
physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, behaviorally, and spiritually. It can come in many
different forms. Some examples of trauma are sexual abuse, physical abuse, racism, separation
from loved ones (DCFS), witnessing violence, death, etc. Childhood maltreatment is a trauma
that is a huge risk factor for mental and physical health development (Gonzalez, 2013). There
are many different symptoms that you may see from those who have been affected by childhood
trauma. Some of the symptoms are difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, high levels of anxiety,
outbursts of anger, depression, irritability, and hopelessness (Sayed et al., 2015). The way that
people react to trauma varies from person to person (Sayed et al., 2015).
Trauma Affects Development
Certain traumas affect the brain. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the
leading disorders that have developed in people who have been affected by trauma (Sayed et al.,
2015). This is one instance of trauma affecting the brain. “Research has shown that traumatic
experiences are associated with both behavioral health and chronic physical health conditions,
especially those traumatic events that occur during childhood” (SAMHSA, 2022). Some people
who have been affected by childhood trauma may carry that trauma into adulthood and may even
become dependent upon alcohol and drugs if the trauma is not properly addressed. Research
shows that people who suffer childhood trauma may experience long-term health problems such
as heart disease and diabetes (SAMHSA, 2023).
When a person is affected by trauma, their sense of safety, trust, and comfort is broken.
They begin to feel unsafe, betrayed, and lose trust in people, which causes them to socially and
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BENCHMARK ESSAY: TRAUMA
emotionally detach themselves from people. When a person is socially and emotionally
detached, they don’t have a desire to build healthy relationships with others.
Resilience and Spirituality
Resilience is how we “bounce back” from adversity. Adversity is the difficulties or
challenges that one may face in life. With the proper treatments and support (protective factors),
people can become resilient to whatever trauma they may have faced. There is no single
measure of resilience. Physical activity, strong social support (therapists or family), and positive,
unselfish behaviors are factors that promote resilience (Sayed et al., 2015). Another factor that
promotes resilience is religion. “Religion/spirituality may be especially helpful in dealing with
uncontrollable stressful life events” (Upenieks, 2021, p. 2692). While religion/spirituality is not
the “be all end all,” it acts as a buffer for those who suffer from mental health issues due to
childhood trauma (Upenieks, 2021). Seeking religiosity/spirituality showed a decrease in
psychological distress for adults who experienced emotional and physical abuse as children
(Upenieks, 2021). When people seek out religion, they are looking for that comfort in a higher
being. “Seeking comfort through religion is typically considered a form of active, problem-
focused coping where individuals can derive support from a divine being, from other members of
a religious group, and from making meaning of distressing events, which can lead to the
promotion of resilience, healing, and well-being” (Pargament et al., 2000 as cited in Upenieks,
2021, p. 2692).
Conclusion
It is proven that trauma has a negative impact on human development. Trauma can affect
the brain, emotions, social life, and health. Having those positive supports and protective factors
allows a person to have the strength to build resilience to trauma.
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BENCHMARK ESSAY: TRAUMA
References
Gonzalez, A. (2013). The impact of childhood maltreatment on biological systems: Implications
for clinical interventions. Paediatr Child Health;18(8): 415-418.
Sayed, S., Iacoviello, B. M., & Charney, D. S. (2015). Risk factors for the development of
psychopathology following trauma. Current Psychiatry Reports, 17(8).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-015-0612-y
Trauma and Violence. SAMHSA. (2022, September 27). https://www.samhsa.gov/trauma-
violence
Understanding Child Trauma. SAMHSA. (2023, March 17). https://www.samhsa.gov/child-
trauma/understanding-child-trauma
Upenieks, L. (2021). Resilience in the aftermath of childhood abuse? changes in religiosity and
adulthood psychological distress. Journal of Religion and Health, 2677–2701.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01155-9
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