During the first wave, the number of Canadians living with very high levels of anxiety quadrupled (5% to 20%) and those living with very high levels of depression doubled (4% to 10%)1. Certain population subgroups may be more vulnerable to the psychosocial consequences of the pandemic, such as people who have experienced interpersonal trauma in their childhood (experiences of physical, psychological or sexual abuse or neglect).
With 1 in 3 Canadians reporting physical or sexual abuse or exposure to domestic violence before the age of 182, it is important to focus on this significant portion of the population during the pandemic because of the threat and instability posed by the virus3. Indeed, this subgroup would experience more psychological distress than those not exposed to these traumatic events4. But what explains this?
The stress sensitivity hypothesis5 could answer this question. This principle states that some people are more fragile to the impacts of a new stressful event considering their past stressful experiences. In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many different stressors that we must deal with.
These include the fear of contracting the virus, loneliness, isolation, and the helplessness and frustration of job loss and financial hardship. These uncontrollable and unpredictable events, and the emotions that arise from them, may amplify the distress associated with previous stressors even if they are unrelated to the pandemic.
This effect would be especially present in individuals who have experienced several traumatic events during childhood. They would have more episodes of major depression (persistent unpleasant emotions), post-traumatic stress disorder (high level of anxiety, intense feeling of fear, strong physical reaction in response to an event threatening the life or the physical or psychological integrity of an individual) and anxiety disorders (level of stress said to be "unjustified" which prevents the individual from functioning normally) in adulthood following exposure to a new source of stress6.
This means that the difficult context of the pandemic puts additional pressure on individuals whose mental health is already fragile7. How can they be helped to lighten the load? Trauma-sensitive practices are an interesting tool in this regard. In August 20204 , Delphine Collin-Vézina, an expert researcher in the field and associate professor at McGill University's School of Social Work, and her colleagues published an article applying these principles to the pandemic. Of these, three examples are particularly relevant to daily practice because of their ease of application:
- The safety principle emphasizes the importance of not feeling threatened, both physically and psychologically. During confinement, it is important to maintain daily routines and establish habits that soothe us, such as walking outside or reading at bedtime, and continue to use them to support one's well-being.
- The principle of social support is one of the most effective in supporting individuals affected by post-traumatic symptoms. Because the pandemic has isolated those who are most vulnerable, it is essential to keep in touch with each other in a variety of ways (phone, text messages, video conference parties) and to support programs that break the isolation, such as civic sponsorship initiatives or various dedicated phone lines.
- The principle of empowerment and choice aims to build on the strengths of individuals rather than their difficulties. Many have experienced significant loss (death, isolation, employment, major events canceled) and no longer feel in control of what happens to them. It is, therefore, crucial to focus on what a person can do rather than what they can no longer do. For example, someone may see confinement as an opportunity to learn new skills, such as art, sports, or cooking.
Clearly, not everyone is experiencing the pandemic with the same resources and tools to cope. In particular, people who experienced interpersonal trauma during childhood felt more distress during the first wave than their peers who were not exposed to these same events. However, this is not inevitable; several means can be put in place to promote their well-being.
We must support their physical and psychological safety, their emancipation and minimize isolation by keeping in touch with each other. Showing compassion to ourselves and others is another way to protect ourselves from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The publication of this article was made possible thanks to our partner, the Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), and the Fonds de recherche du Québec.
To cite this article : Duguay, G. (2021, November 8). The pandemic and childhood trauma: when fragility rhymes with sensitivity. TRACE Blog. https://natachagodbout.com/en/blog/pandemic-and-childhood-trauma-when-f….
- 1Mental Health Research Canada. (2020). Mental Health During COVID-19 Outbreak Wave 1. Mental Health Research Canada. Disponible au: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f31a311d93d0f2e28aaf04a/t/5f86800c5757437eb2b17f08/1602650133129/Full+Report+of+Findings+of+Survey+-+FINAL.pdf
- 2Afifi, T. O., MacMillan, H. L., Boyle, M., Taillieu, T., Cheung, K., & Sareen, J. (2014). Child abuse and mental disorders in Canada. CMAJ, 186(9), E324-E332.
- 3Perry, B. (2020). Staying emotionally close in the time of COVID-19. Disponible au : https://www.thetraumatherapistproject.com/podcast/bruce-perry-md-phd-staying-emotionally-close-in-the-time-of-covid-19/
- 4Siegel, A., & Lahav, Y. (2021). Emotion Regulation and Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Childhood Abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Disponible au : https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605211021968
- 5Hammen, C., Henry, R., & Daley, S. E. (2000). Depression and sensitization to stressors among young women as a function of childhood adversity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(5), 782. Disponible au : https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11068964/
- 6McLaughlin, K., Conron, K., Koenen, K., & Gilman, S. (2010). Childhood adversity, adult stressful life events, and risk of past-year psychiatric disorder: A test of the stress sensitization hypothesis in a population-based sample of adults. Psychological Medicine, 40(10), 1647-1658. Disponible au : https://doi.org./10.1017/S0033291709992121
- 7Seitz, K. I., Bertsch, K., & Herpertz, S. C. (2021). A Prospective Study of Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Childhood Trauma-Exposed Individuals: Social Support Matters. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 34(3), 477–486. Disponible au : https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22660
