Rates of illness have been shown to be influenced by gender and the experience of childhood trauma. This research investigated the pathways via which such differences develop. First, the World Beliefs Inventory was developed to assess world beliefs. Second, Structural Equation Modelling was employed, revealing that autonomy, competence, relatedness, and optimism played a role in the process via which gender role schema and the experience of childhood trauma influenced psychological, physical, and social well-being in adulthood. Additionally, world beliefs influenced social well-being, and the self-regulation of the withholding of negative emotions influenced physical well-being. This analysis should interest professionals and academics in the social sciences, and those interested in the statistical method of hierarchical Structural Equation Modelling.