Understanding Childhood Trauma and Its Impact – For Young Athletes
- Pheonix Drewell
- Jul 18
- 2 min read
Childhood trauma refers to events that are extremely stressful, harmful, or frightening that happen before you turn 18, like abuse, neglect, or growing up in unsafe environments. A major study called the ACEs Study (Adverse Childhood Experiences), conducted by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente, found that these early life experiences can affect your health and mental wellbeing well into adulthood (Felitti et al., 1998).
The National Institute of Mental Health (2022) defines a traumatic event as something shocking or dangerous that leaves a lasting emotional effect. People who experience four or more types of trauma during childhood are significantly more likely to struggle later in life with things like:
Depression, anxiety, and substance use
Suicidal thoughts or behaviours
Physical health issues like obesity, fatigue, or chronic illness
Risky behaviours and challenges in relationships (Anda, 2007; Anda et al., 2008; Brown et al., 2009; Felitti et al., 1998)
Because of how widespread and serious these effects are, childhood trauma is now recognised as a major public health issue (Anda et al., 2010). It’s also important to understand that not everyone faces the same level of risk. Research shows that certain groups such as Black, Latinx, multiracial individuals, LGBTQ+ youth, and people from low-income or unstable households are more likely to be exposed to trauma due to the social and economic conditions they grow up in (Merrick et al., 2018; Wade et al., 2014; Wolff et al., 2018).
And yes, even elite athletes are affected. Studies show that athletes at the top level have higher rates of mental health issues, like anxiety, depression, and alcohol misuse, than the general population (Gouttebarge et al., 2019; Purcell et al., 2019; Rice et al., 2016). In many cases, their trauma may come from their past, or even from within sport—through injuries, pressure, or unhealthy team dynamics.
Interestingly, athletes often develop coping strategies that allow them to perform at a high level, such as pushing through pain, compartmentalising emotion, or staying hyper-focused. But these same strategies can hide signs of trauma, making it harder for coaches or support staff to recognise when something deeper is going on (Aron et al., 2019; Bateman & Morgan, 2019).
Want to bring trauma-informed training to your club or school? Connect with us at Sound Mind Sound Performance.
