Associations between childhood maltreatment and adult depression: a mediation analysis

Klumparendt, Anne; Nelson, Janna; Barenbruegge, Jens und Ehring, Thomas (2019): Associations between childhood maltreatment and adult depression: a mediation analysis. In: BMC Psychiatry, Bd. 19, 36

Abstract

BackgroundThere is ample evidence showing that childhood maltreatment (CM) is a risk factor for the development of depression in adulthood. However, little is known about the psychological processes mediating this relationship. This study used a large community sample to investigate the mediating role of emotional, cognitive and/or interpersonal dysfunctions on the one hand and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms on the other hand.MethodsOne thousand twenty seven participants of a community sample filled out an online survey. Mediation analyses were computed via linear structural equation modelling.ResultsResults showed a significant mediation of the association between CM and adult depression via emotional impairments, depressogenic attribution style and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Our study design was cross-sectional and therefore did not allow testing temporal precedence of mediators and causality. Data was collected retrospectively, a confounding effect of current depressive symptoms on retrospective recall of CM therefore cannot be ruled out.ConclusionsThe a priori mediation model showed a good fit with the data. The model suggests promising objectives for further research on CM-related depression and potential treatment targets in the future.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Psychologie und Pädagogik > Department Psychologie
• Themengebiete: 100 Philosophie und Psychologie > 150 Psychologie
• Sprache: Englisch