Psychiatry RAISR4D

A cross-national study of demographic variation and childhood predictors of traumatic distress

23/05/2026

AI Summary

Traumatic distress prevalence varies widely across countries, from 16% in Poland to 53% in Egypt.
Higher distress prevalence associated with younger age, gender-diverse identity, separation, unemployment, lower education, foreign-born status, and frequent religious attendance.
Abuse, family financial insecurity, outsider feelings, parental divorce and poor health at age 12 increase distress risk; abuse predicts distress in 21 countries.

Commun Med (Lond). 2026 May 22. doi: 10.1038/s43856-026-01657-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Traumatic distress is a major global public health concern requiring cross-cultural understanding.

METHODS: Using nationally representative data from the Global Flourishing Study (N = 202,898; 22 countries), we estimated country-specific prevalence of traumatic distress and examined 9 sociodemographic and 13 childhood predictors. Random-effects meta-analyses assessed cross-country variation and associations.

RESULTS: Here we show that the prevalence of traumatic distress ranges from 16% (Poland) to 53% (Egypt). Higher prevalence of distress is observed among younger individuals, gender-diverse groups, those separated from partners, unemployed, less educated, those born outside their country and those who attend religious services regularly. Several childhood experiences at age 12 are associated with a higher risk of traumatic distress, including abuse, family financial insecurity, feeling like an outsider, parental divorce, and poor health. Childhood abuse is a significant predictor in 21 countries.

CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic distress prevalence and predictors vary across countries and are shaped by both current sociodemographic and early-life factors.

PMID:42174140 | DOI:10.1038/s43856-026-01657-9

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