Abstract
Childhood trauma significantly impacts adult psychological well-being, including interpersonal relationships. This study explored the relationship between childhood trauma, rejection sensitivity, and interpersonal cognitive distortions among 265 young adults (ages 18-25) from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Interpersonal Cognitive Distortion Scale (ICDS), and Adult Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (ARSQ). Results showed that childhood trauma was positively associated with overall interpersonal cognitive distortions as well as its sub-dimensions of intimacy avoidance and mind-reading. Physical abuse emerged as the most influential trauma type, significantly predicting both the overall distortions and its two sub-dimensions. Intimacy avoidance was particularly affected by childhood trauma and its types. Rejection sensitivity was also positively associated with overall interpersonal cognitive distortions and its mind-reading sub-dimension. These findings have important implications for mental health professionals, marriage and family counselors, and therapists by understanding the role of various childhood traumas in shaping adult relationship patterns.