(PS4-C51) The Association Between Childhood Trauma and Adulthood Depression and Posttraumatic Stress; The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation and Perceived Social Support

The link between childhood adverse experiences and adulthood depression and post-traumatic stress (PTS) is well-researched. Some literature suggests that both perceived social support and emotion regulation might be the underlying mechanisms of this link. Given the paucity of research targeting Hispanics who have been a leader in victims of childhood abuse and neglect, the current study examined the mediating role of perceived social support and emotion regulation in the relationship of childhood trauma and adulthood depression and PTS in college students (90% Hispanic).

Method

146 college students (36 males and 110 females) completed demographic questions, Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9) for depression, PTSD checklist 5 (PCL5) for PTS, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) for childhood adversity, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) PSS, and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ, two subscales CR, ES) for ER. Participants completed the survey anonymously online.

A series of mediation analyses were performed using PROCESS (Hayes, 2022). ACE total was the predictor. Depression and PTS levels were separately tested as the criterion of the model. The model tested perceived social support and emotion regulation as a mediator one at a time. 

Results

            Significant correlations were found for all the variables of interest (-1 < r’s < 0; p’s < .05), except emotion suppression (ERQ-ES) having no association with ACE total, one of the expected mediators. Thus, the subsequent mediation analyses only entered perceived social support (MSPSS) and cognitive reappraisal (ERQ-CR) as mediators.  

The association between ACE total and depression (PHQ9) was significant, which partially mediated by perceived social support (MSPSS) (B = .27, p < .05). Cognitive reappraisal (ERQ-CR) did not mediate the association (B = .15, p = < .05). The association between ACE total and PTS (PCL5) was significant, which partially mediated by perceived social support (B = .66, p < .05) and cognitive reappraisal (B = .39, p < .05).

Discussion

            The current sample consisted of 90% Hispanics who are at high risk for childhood traumas. Consistent with the past findings cumulated childhood trauma was associated with current psychological symptoms. The mediating role of perceived social support in the associations was found. Decreased perceived social support appears a possible mechanism explaining the path from childhood trauma and adulthood depression and PTS. Increasing levels of perceived social support, perhaps by offering external support, might have a positive impact on reducing adulthood psychopathology, particularly among Hispanic victims of childhood trauma. The hypothesized mediating role of emotion regulation was found only for the model targeting PTS. Still, therapeutic efforts focusing on childhood trauma victims’ cognitive appraisal skills might help reduce the risks of developing adulthood PTS. Some limitations of the current study include the small sample size and the use of a convenience sample. Future research should examine various aspects of emotion regulation as mediators of the model in larger and more diverse samples.