Adopting a Trauma-Informed Approach to Gender-Based Violence Across the Life Course

Gender-based violence and other forms of trauma affect individuals throughout the lifespan, with effects accumulating to impact biopsychosocial functioning across all domains of the socioecological model. We need effective proximal and distal trauma-informed/trauma-responsive interventions for all age groups to prevent and interrupt negative sequelae. There are many opportunities to intervene; it is better to intervene as proximally to the trauma/GBV as possible, and the younger the better in the life cycle. Distal intervention is possible but hampered by the development of mental health sequelae, maladaptive coping, concurrent/subsequent adversities/traumas and other challenging life circumstances.