Impact of Childhood Trauma on Adult Sexual Functioning: A Review of Psychological and Therapeutic Perspectives

Abstract

Childhood trauma is more widespread than many people realise, and one consequence that rarely gets the attention it deserves is how it affects sexuality in later life. Physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and witnessing violence at home can all leave lasting marks on how a person relates to their own body and to intimate partners in adulthood. This paper reviews existing research on the psychological effects of childhood trauma on adult sexual functioning, and looks at what kinds of therapy have been found to help. The review draws on attachment theory, trauma theory, neurobiological research, and cognitive models to understand why early adversity so often disrupts adult sexuality and intimacy. In terms of treatment, the paper covers trauma-informed care, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), somatic approaches, sex therapy, and couple therapy. Given that both authors are based in India, the paper also addresses how cultural factors such as stigma, silence around abuse, and limited access to trained clinicians shape this issue in the Indian context. Childhood trauma affects adult sexuality through several different pathways, and no single intervention is enough on its own. Effective clinical work in this area needs to be trauma-informed, integrated across psychological and somatic domains, and sensitive to the relational and cultural context each client brings.