Experiencing trauma in childhood is a global public health issue linked to worse physical and mental health outcomes, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Self-concept is a transdiagnostic concept linked to various psychopathologies and understanding its unique relationship to trauma is important. This meta-analysis aimed to understand the size of the effect between trauma and maltreatment and self-concept in children and adolescents. The current meta-analysis searched PubMed, PILOTS, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases. Inclusion criteria involved studies with defined trauma exposure, valid measures of self-concept, and participants’ mean age under 18 years old. One-hundred-and-thirty-four studies were included in the meta-analysis (N = 255,334). A random-effects meta-analysis was performed. A small negative relationship was observed between trauma exposure and self-concept (r = − 0.20, 95% CI − 0.22, − 0.18). This relationship was significantly moderated by some variables (type and nature of trauma exposure) but not others (participant gender, type of self-concept measure, quality of studies, country economic status). A small relationship between trauma exposure and negative self-concept in children and adolescents was detected, with repeated trauma exposure and type of trauma exposure moderating this relationship. This provides important directions for clinical practice around providing support for those exposed or most vulnerable to experiencing trauma.

童年经历创伤是一个全球性公共卫生问题，与较差的身心健康结果有关，包括创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD)。自我概念是一个与各种精神病理学相关的跨诊断概念，了解其与创伤的独特关系非常重要。这项荟萃分析旨在了解创伤和虐待与儿童和青少年自我概念之间的影响大小。当前的荟萃分析检索了 PubMed、PILOTS、PsycINFO 和 Web of Science 数据库。纳入标准涉及明确的创伤暴露、有效的自我概念测量以及参与者平均年龄在 18 岁以下的研究。荟萃分析纳入了 134 项研究 (N = 255,334)。进行了随机效应荟萃分析。在创伤暴露和自我概念之间观察到较小的负相关关系（r = − 0.20，95% CI − 0.22，− 0.18）。这种关系受到一些变量（创伤暴露的类型和性质）的显着调节，但其他变量（参与者性别、自我概念测量类型、研究质量、国家经济状况）则没有显着调节。研究发现，儿童和青少年的创伤暴露与消极自我概念之间存在较小的关系，而反复的创伤暴露和创伤暴露的类型会调节这种关系。这为临床实践提供了重要方向，为那些暴露或最容易遭受创伤的人提供支持。