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Childhood Trauma and Psychological Distress: A Serial Mediation Model among Chinese Adolescents

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  • Lin Zhang

    (Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430056, China
    Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430056, China
    School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430056, China)

  • Xueyao Ma

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Medical Psychology, Frauensteige 6, 89075 Ulm, Germany)

  • Xianglian Yu

    (Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430056, China
    Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430056, China
    School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430056, China
    Department of Education, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China)

  • Meizhu Ye

    (Putian Huaqiao High School, Putian 351115, China)

  • Na Li

    (Lie Dong Middle School, Sanming 365000, China)

  • Shan Lu

    (Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430056, China
    Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430056, China
    School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430056, China)

  • Jiayi Wang

    (Department of Education, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China)

Abstract

The consequence of childhood trauma may last for a long time. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of childhood trauma on general distress among Chinese adolescents and explore the potential mediating roles of social support and family functioning in the childhood trauma-general distress linkage. A total of 2139 valid questionnaires were collected from two high schools in southeast China. Participants were asked to complete the questionnaires measuring childhood trauma, social support, family functioning, and general distress. Pathway analysis was conducted by using SPSS AMOS 24.0 and PROCESS Macro for SPSS 3.5. Results showed that childhood trauma was positively associated with general distress among Chinese adolescents. Social support and family functioning independently and serially mediated the linkage of childhood trauma and general distress. These findings confirmed and complemented the ecological system theory of human development and the multisystem developmental framework for resilience. Furthermore, these findings indicated that the mental and emotional problems of adolescents who had childhood trauma were not merely issues of adolescents themselves, but concerns of the whole system and environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin Zhang & Xueyao Ma & Xianglian Yu & Meizhu Ye & Na Li & Shan Lu & Jiayi Wang, 2021. "Childhood Trauma and Psychological Distress: A Serial Mediation Model among Chinese Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-11, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:6808-:d:581763
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Anne-Laura van Harmelen & Jenny L Gibson & Michelle C St Clair & Matt Owens & Jeannette Brodbeck & Valerie Dunn & Gemma Lewis & Tim Croudace & Peter B Jones & Rogier A Kievit & Ian M Goodyer, 2016. "Friendships and Family Support Reduce Subsequent Depressive Symptoms in At-Risk Adolescents," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(5), pages 1-20, May.
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