Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Studies (JHSSS) Website: www.jhsss.org ISSN: 2663-7197 159 Research Article The Conversation: Understanding Young Women’s Childhood and its Impact on Mental Health at the University Counselling Centre Tanni Choudhury 1 * & Rashmi Choudhury 2 1 Senior Research Fellow, Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India 2 M.Phil. Scholar, Raksha Shakti University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India Corresponding Author: Tanni Choudhury, E-mail: tchoudhury@jgu.edu.in ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article History Received: June 21, 2020 Accepted: July 15, 2020 Volume: 2 Issue: 4 This article report findings on childhood psychological maltreatment among 50 young women from Delhi University seeking counselling services at the Mind Body Centre of Delhi University Women’s Association. This study reveals a powerful association between their emotional experiences as children and the subsequent impact on their adult psychological well-being. We provide a review of selected literature on the nature and extent of childhood maltreatment and place the issue within the societal context of India. Research methods included extensive semi-structured interviews during the counselling sessions ranging from 3-4 sessions. The findings are important and provide remarkable and critical insights into the influence of patriarchal familial structure and the extent to which women are at a disadvantage due to their gender. It also suggests how gender stereotypes still permeates within the family life in India and has a long- lasting impact on the lives of these women. KEYWORDS Childhood victimization, psychological maltreatment, women in India, patriarchal culture, mental health, gender bias Introduction 1 Childhood victimization affects the development of a woman’s identity, self -esteem, and belief systems. Hence, if not treated, it can affect her ability to function effectively in some aspects of her adult life. As a society, we need to acknowledge the abuse and trauma that happens to children, however, due to underreporting of this trauma, the actual number of women who were abused as children is only an estimate. There is a growing literature that is derived from a critical and feminist perspective that emphasizes the social and structural factors of a patriarchal society that shape women’s experiences of victimization and trauma and seeks to advocate for social and gender equality to prevent, reduce and eliminate violence against women. Abuse of any kind (physical as well as sexual) is traumatic mentally, physically, and emotionally to children, and it continues to affect them as they grow into adults. The long-term mental health problems can include depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. The pattern of trauma can also be repeated in adulthood in the form of negative self-image and belief systems. The women tend to be hopeless and helpless about her life situation. The risk factors of childhood may also contribute to future trauma in her adulthood. A large number of studies provide strong evidence that gender-based differences contribute significantly to the prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders in girls and women compared to boys and men. Socially determined gender norms, roles, and responsibilities place women, far more frequently than men, in situations where they have little control over important decisions concerning their lives (Geneva: World Health Organization; 2001. World Health Organization. Gender and women's mental health. Gender disparities and mental health: The Facts., 2020). The prominence of recognizing the effects of childhood victimization in women has laid the foundation for its significance in contemporary society. It has adopted an interdisciplinary and multidimensional model. There is no denying that its Published by Al-Kindi Center for Research and Development. Copyright (c) the author(s). This is an open access article under CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)