Prevalence of Childhood Trauma among Married Individuals in Ngando, Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Childhood trauma is a pervasive issue that affects many individuals, often carrying significant implications into adulthood. Childhood trauma prevalence among married individuals can significantly impact relationship dynamics, emotional health, and overall marital satisfaction. This study examined the prevalence of childhood trauma among married individuals in Ngando, Nairobi County, Kenya. The study was grounded on Attachment Theory and Structural Family Theory. The study employed descriptive research design with a sample size of 167 participants. The data was collected using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics particularly frequencies and percentages with SPSS. The findings revealed a high prevalence of childhood trauma across all five subscales; Emotional abuse was reported by 62.9% of participants, physical abuse by 70.0%, sexual abuse by 62.9%, emotional neglect by 69.3%, and physical neglect by 79.3%. The study recommends that married individuals should embrace therapeutic processes that could help them process the unaddressed trauma they witnessed in childhood. Also, trauma screening and therapy could be integrated into pre-marital counselling sessions in order to address hidden emotional wounds.