Childhood Trauma and Social Skills in Residential Care Youth: the Roles of Coping Strategies and Self-efficacy.

This study explored how childhood traumatic experiences, such as abuse and neglect, are related to perceived poor social skills. It also examined how coping strategies and self-efficacy may moderate that relationship. The sample consisted of 214 participants (55.6% girls; Mage = 15.27) living in residential care in Romania. The length of time spent in the residential care center varies between one month and 16 years, with a mean of 4.81 years (SD = 3.80). Participants completed measures assessing traumatic experiences, perceived social skills, coping strategies, and self-efficacy. Path analysis showed that traumatic experiences and maladaptive coping strategies positively predicted, while adaptive coping strategies negatively predicted perceived poor social skills. This relationship was moderated only by self-efficacy. When self‑efficacy was high, participants with high levels of traumatic experiences also reported higher levels of perceived poor social skills. Among participants with minimal trauma exposure, low self-efficacy was still associated with poorer social skills. Lacking confidence in one's ability to manage social situations can be a barrier to healthy interpersonal functioning, even without a history of significant trauma. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening adaptive coping and building self-efficacy in all children. Both are associated with stronger socio-emotional development and show different patterns of association with adversity.