Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate correlation of childhood trauma experience and parent-adolescents’ assessment reports on problem behavior through comparison of delinquent and general adolescents.

Methods: First, delinquent adolescents and general adolescents were asked to complete the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Then, 71 pairs of delinq uent adolescents and their parents and 133 pairs of general adolescents and their parents were asked to complete the Korean Youth Self-Report (K-YSR) and the Korean Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL). Finally, responses from 410 people were used for the analysis.

Results: First, childhood trauma experience score was significantly higher for delinquent adolescents, compared to general adolescents. Second, t-test showed a greater difference between K-YRS and K-CBCL for general adolescents than for delinquent adolescents. Third, in the case of delinquent adolescents, the correlation analysis of K-YSR filled out by adolescents and K-CBCL filled out by parents showed significant correlation in certain areas, including social immaturity, delinquent behaviors, internalization issues, and externalization issues. On the other hand, the correlation analysis of K-YSR and K-CBCL of general adolescents showed significant correlation in all sub-categories. Fourth, the correlation analysis of delinquent adolescents’ CTQ and K-YSR showed minimal yet significant correlation in social adaptation, withdrawing, depression/anxiety, and delinquent/aggressive behaviors, however, no correlation was observed between CTQ and K-CBCL. The correlation analysis of general adolescents’ CTQ and K-YSR, and CTQ and K-CBCL showed significant correlation in all sub-categories, although the degree of correlation varied.

Conclusion: Delinquent adolescents had more childhood traumatic experiences. However, general adolescents’ childhood traumatic experiences showed minimal yet significant correlation with various adaptation indicators and their parents responded in a similar way, indicating that general adolescents with childhood traumatic experiences need close care and attention even if they have not shown prominent delinquent behaviors.