An unhappy childhood would cast a shadow on one's whole life.
An unhappy childhood may have some negative effects on a person's character; however, they are not always permanent.
Most of Murakami's characters had unhappy childhoods, not coincidentally, he says.
I put his bad temper down to having had an unhappy childhood.
In asking for a light sentence, his lawyer cited a letter written by his sister, recounting their unhappy childhood at the hands of alcoholic parents.
I suppose that, subconsciously, I was reacting against my unhappy childhood.
His unhappy childhood has prejudiced him against having children.
Sometimes, people choose mates who resemble their parents not because of fond memories, but to make amends for an unhappy childhood.
He told me about his unhappy childhood.
