The mediating effect of self-compassion on the relationship between childhood maltreatment and depression

"All you need is compassion?" a latent profile analysis of neglect and self-compassion on child mental health

BACKGROUND

Neglect is a common form of child maltreatment and profoundly affects children's mental health globally. Self-compassion may help children cope with neglect but the role of self-compassion in neglect context has been understudied. This study identifies distinct patterns of self-compassion and child neglect and explores how neglect and self-compassion profiles correlate with child mental health.

METHODS

The sample includes 3342 children aged 8-16 (49.6 % female) from a national survey of 29 provinces in China using a multistage sampling method. We used latent profile analysis to identify distinct profiles of self-compassion and neglect and examine their combined effects on child mental health, including both positive indicators (hope, resilience) and negative indicators (anxiety, depression, academic burnout, and peer problems).

RESULTS

We identified four neglect/self-compassion profiles: Adaptable Self-Carers (average neglect/high self-compassion), Vulnerable Languishers (high neglect/low self-compassion), Stable Self-Soothers (low neglect/average self-compassion), and Opportune Thrivers (low neglect/high self-compassion). The Vulnerable Languishers group exhibited the poorest mental health outcomes, whereas the Opportune Thrivers showed the best outcomes. Adaptable Self-Carers, although experiencing more neglect than Stable Self-Soothers, had better mental health than the latter, possibly due to their greater self-compassion.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional design limits our ability to determine causality, and the use of self-reported measures increases response bias risk.

CONCLUSIONS

More self-compassion and less neglect are associated with more positive mental health outcomes. Moreover, self-compassion is a potential protective factor against the adverse effects of neglect on child mental health. Fostering self-compassion may boost positive adjustment in children who have experienced neglect.

Moderation by better sleep of the association among childhood maltreatment, neuroticism, and depressive symptoms in the adult volunteers: A moderated mediation model

BACKGROUND

Previously, we demonstrated that childhood maltreatment could worsen depressive symptoms through neuroticism. On the one hand, some studies report that sleep disturbances are related to childhood maltreatment and neuroticism and worsens depressive symptoms. But, to our knowledge, no reports to date have shown the interrelatedness between childhood maltreatment, neuroticism, and depressive symptoms, and sleep disturbance in the one model. We hypothesized that sleep disturbance enhances the influence of maltreatment victimization in childhood or neuroticism on adulthood depressive symptoms and the mediation influence of neuroticism between maltreatment victimization in childhood and adulthood depressive symptoms.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Total 584 Japanese volunteer adults recruited through convenience sampling from 4/2017 to 4/2018 were assessed regarding their characteristics of demographics, history of childhood maltreatment, sleep disturbance, neuroticism, and depressive symptoms with questionnaires self-administered. Survey data were analyzed using simple moderation models and a moderating mediation model.

RESULTS

The interaction of sleep disturbance with childhood maltreatment or neuroticism on depressive symptoms was significantly positive. Furthermore, the moderating effect of sleep disturbance on the indirect effect of childhood maltreatment to depressive symptoms through neuroticism was significantly positive.

LIMITATIONS

Because this was a cross-sectional study, a causal relationship could not be confirmed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that individuals with milder sleep disturbance experience fewer depressive symptoms attributable to neuroticism and childhood maltreatment. Additionally, people with less sleep disturbance have fewer depressive symptoms arising from neuroticism owing to childhood maltreatment. Therefore, improvement of sleep disturbance will buffer the aggravating effect of childhood maltreatment, neuroticism caused by various factors, and neuroticism resulting from childhood maltreatment on depressive symptoms.

Childhood Trauma and Depressive Level Among Chinese College Students in Guangzhou: The Roles of Rumination and Perceived Stress

OBJECTIVE

Although previous studies have validated the effect of childhood trauma on depressive level, few studies have utilized the diathesis-stress theory to investigate the specific roles of perceived stress and rumination in the pathway between childhood trauma and depression in Chinese college students. This study aims to demonstrate the mediation effect of perceived stress and the moderation effect of rumination in the pathway between childhood trauma and depressive level in Chinese college students.

METHODS

A total of 995 Chinese college students in Guangzhou were included in this study by recruitment advertisement from October to December 2021. And they were asked to finish four self-report questionnaires, including Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, Perceived Stress Scale, the 22-item Ruminative Response Scale, and Beck Depression Scale-II. Then the data were analyzed with Mplus 8.3.

RESULTS

Results revealed significant correlations among childhood trauma, perceived stress, rumination and depressive level. Further analyses revealed that perceived stress played a mediation role between childhood trauma and depressive level (estimate=0.09, standard error [SE]=0.02, t=5.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.06-0.12), and rumination played a moderation role between childhood trauma and perceived stress (estimate=-0.17, SE=0.06, t=-2.86, 95% CI=-0.28- -0.05]) as well as between childhood trauma and depressive level (estimate=0.10, SE=0.04, t=2.74, 95% CI=0.03-0.16).

CONCLUSION

These results revealed the mediation effect of perceived stress and the moderation effect of rumination in the pathway between childhood trauma and depressive level in Chinese college students, which helped us to understand how the childhood trauma influenced the depressive level and gave us multi-dimensional indications for reducing the effect of childhood trauma on depressive level.

Childhood maltreatment and depressed mood in female college students: A daily diary analysis

BACKGROUND

Childhood maltreatment has well-documented relations with depressed mood. However, few studies have used a daily diary methodology to investigate the association between all five forms of childhood maltreatment (emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, emotional and physical neglect) and depressed mood, and the mechanisms underlying the association remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The current study sought to examine the associations of multiple forms of childhood maltreatment with depressed mood via a 14-day daily diary methodology, and investigate the mediating effects of self-compassion and perceived social support.

METHODS

A sample of 220 Chinese female college students (Mage = 19.13 years) participated in this study and completed questionnaires regarding childhood maltreatment, self-compassion, perceived social support and depressed mood.

RESULTS

The multilevel regression analysis indicated that only emotional abuse was slightly associated with depressed mood, while emotional neglect, physical abuse, physical neglect, or sexual abuse were not associated with depressed mood. The multilevel mediation analysis further revealed that self-compassion and perceived social support independently mediated the association of childhood emotional abuse with depressed mood.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, these results emphasize the specific association between childhood emotional abuse and daily depressed mood, and further support self-compassion and perceived social support as explanatory mechanisms linking childhood emotional abuse with later depressed mood.

Childhood psychological maltreatment and adolescent depressive symptoms: Exploring the role of social anxiety and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies

BACKGROUND

Despite emerging evidence for the effect of childhood psychological maltreatment on adolescent depressive symptoms, the underlying processes for this effect are largely under-investigated. This study examined a conceptual framework for the effect of childhood psychological maltreatment on adolescent depressive symptoms through social anxiety disorder (SAD) and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies.

METHODS

The participants were 1649 Chinese middle school students (751 girls and 898 boys) with a mean age of 16.29 ± 1.04 years old. A moderation-mediation model hypothesized that childhood psychological maltreatment predicts adolescent depressive symptoms, with SAD as a mediator and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies as a moderator.

RESULTS

Childhood psychological maltreatment significantly positively predicted adolescent depressive symptoms, while SAD mediated the relation. Maladaptive emotion regulation strategies moderated the pathways from psychological maltreatment to depressive symptoms (but not from psychological maltreatment to SAD) and from SAD to adolescent depressive symptoms.

LIMITATIONS

Subjective measures, and the cross-sectional design are the main limitations.

CONCLUSIONS

SAD plays a mediating role in the relation between childhood psychological maltreatment and depressive symptoms. Maladaptive emotion regulation strategies exacerbate the relation between childhood psychological maltreatment and depressive symptoms, as well as the relation between SAD and depressive symptoms. These results highlight the importance of addressing social anxiety in reducing adolescent depressive symptoms by improving their cognitive emotion regulation strategies.

Longitudinal relationship between child maltreatment, bullying victimization, depression, and nonsuicidal self-injury among left-behind children in China: 2-year follow-up

BACKGROUND

Left-behind childre (LBC) in China are deeply concerned by society because of their high risk of emotional and behavioral problems. Depression and nonsuicidal self-injury are the most harmful and worrying negative emotional and behavioral problems in LBC. Unfortunately, LBCs are in unfavorable environments for a long time and are prone to negative interpersonal interactions. Child maltreatment and bullying victimization, as the two most typical negative interpersonal interactions in family and school environments, maybe the key risk factors for depression and nonsuicidal self-injury among LBCs. However, we are less known of the longitudinal effects of child maltreatment and bullying victimization on LBC's depression and nonsuicidal self-injury and their underlying mechanisms.

AIMS

This study used a two-year longitudinal design with three-time points to investigate the longitudinal effects of child maltreatment and bullying victimization on depression, nonsuicidal self-injury, and the mediating role of negative thoughts and self-compassion.

MATERIALS & METHODS

A sample of 592 LBC (390 were males, Mage at time 1 = 9.56, SDage = 0.65; 202 were females, Mage at time 1 = 9.43, SDage = 0.63) completed a set of questionnaires at three-time points. This study used SPSS software (version 25.0) and MPLUS software (version 8.3) for all analyses.

RESULTS

(1) Child maltreatment not only affects depression and nonsuicidal self-injury but also affects depression and nonsuicidal self-injury through negative thoughts. Child maltreatment affects depression through self-compassion and does not affect nonsuicidal self-injury. (2) Bullying victimization affects depression and nonsuicidal self-injury through negative thoughts and bullying victimization further affects depression through self-compassion but does not affect nonsuicidal self-injury.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed the effects of negative interpersonal interactions (child maltreatment, bullying victimization) on LBC's adverse emotions and behaviors, and their underlying mechanisms, which helps to provide parents, schools, and psychoeducational workers with a new perspective on intervention.

Childhood maltreatment and suicide risk: The mediating role of self-compassion, mentalization, depression

BACKGROUND

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a well-established risk factor for depression and increased suicide risk. This study aimed to investigate the distinctive mechanisms of individual types of CM on young adult suicide risk, by exploring the potential mediating role of mentalization, self-compassion, and depression.

METHODS

A total of 4873 adults completed a survey screening for experiences of CM, self-compassion, mentalization, depression, and suicide risk.

RESULTS

The path analysis revealed significant direct effects of mentalization, self-compassion, and depression on suicide risk. Moreover, mentalization, self-compassion, and depression mediated the relationship between emotional abuse/neglect and suicide risk, whereas physical neglect contributed to suicide risk only through mentalization and depression. Furthermore, sexual abuse had a significant direct effect on suicide risk, whereas physical abuse did not show any direct or indirect effects.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional design of the study limits its ability to establish causality, and the risk of recall bias in reporting physical or sexual abuse cannot be ignored.

CONCLUSIONS

This study represents the first identification of disturbances in self-compassion, mentalization, and depression that mediate the relationship between various types of CM and suicide risk in young adults. Our findings suggest substantive differences in the impact of emotional CM compared to other forms of CM. Enhancing self-compassion and mentalization abilities could be valuable intervention strategies for individuals with a history of emotional CM. Addressing factors that hinder the recall of relevant subjective experiences of physical and sexual abuse is also critical.

Self-compassion and avoidant coping as mediators of the relationship between childhood maltreatment and mental health and alcohol use in young adulthood

BACKGROUND

Exposure to childhood maltreatment increases the risk of mental health and substance use problems. Understanding the mechanisms linking maltreatment to these problems is critical for prevention.

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether self-compassion and avoidant coping mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and mental ill-health and alcohol use.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Australians aged 18-20 years at baseline were recruited through social media and professional networks.

METHODS

Participants (n = 568) completed an online survey, and were followed up annually for two subsequent surveys. Mediation models were conducted with the SPSS PROCESS macro. Maltreatment was the predictor; Wave 2 self-compassion and avoidant coping as mediators; Wave 3 mental health and alcohol use as outcomes.

RESULTS

Childhood maltreatment predicted greater mental health symptoms (b = 0.253, 95 % CI = 0.128-0.378), and alcohol use (b = 0.057, 95 % CI = 0.008-0.107). Both self-compassion (b = 0.056, 95 % CI = 0.019-0.093) and avoidant coping (b = 0.103, 95 % CI = 0.024-0.181) mediated the relationship between maltreatment and mental health. Additionally, avoidant coping, but not self-compassion, mediated the relationship (b = 0.040, 95 % CI 0.020-0.061) with alcohol use. However, when controlling for pre-existing mental health and substance use, neither self-compassion nor avoidant coping mediated the relationship with mental health. Only avoidant coping mediated the link with alcohol use (b = 0.010, 95 % CI = 0.001-0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggests that by adulthood, self-compassion and avoidant coping may not explain future change in mental health symptoms; however, avoidant coping accounts for change in alcohol use across early adulthood. Reducing avoidant coping may prevent hazardous alcohol use across young adulthood among people exposed to childhood maltreatment.

Harsh Childhood Discipline and Developmental Changes in Adolescent Aggressive Behavior: The Mediating Role of Self-Compassion

Harsh discipline during childhood (psychological aggression and corporal punishment) has been found to be an early risk factor for adolescent aggressive behavior. However, previous studies have mainly examined the relationship between harsh discipline as a whole and the level of adolescent aggressive behavior. This study investigates the effects of childhood psychological aggression and corporal punishment on the initial levels and rate of change in adolescent aggressive behavior, as well as the mediating role of self-compassion in this relationship. Using cluster sampling, a three-wave follow-up assessment was conducted on 1214 high-school students (60.7% boys; mean age at Wave 1 = 15.46 ± 0.71). The results showed that childhood psychological aggression and corporal punishment had a positive predictive effect on the development level of adolescent aggressive behavior. However, only childhood psychological aggression significantly directly attenuated the decline rate of adolescent aggressive behavior. In addition, both childhood psychological aggression and corporal punishment indirectly affected the initial levels and growth rate of adolescent aggressive behavior through self-compassion. These findings could provide potential targets for prevention and intervention programs aimed at improving aggressive behavior in Chinese adolescents.

Specific correlation between childhood trauma and social cognition in Chinese Han first-episode, drug-naïve major depressive disorder

BACKGROUND

Childhood trauma (CT) is a significant factor affecting social cognition in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the relationship between CT, social cognition, and MDD is still not well-understood.

METHODS

A total of 251 Han Chinese participants, comprising 117 first-episode drug-naïve MDD patients and 134 healthy controls (HCs), were recruited. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and Facial Emotion Recognition Test were used to measure CT and social cognition. Partial correlations were conducted to analyze the association between CT and social cognition.

RESULTS

Our results showed that no significant correlation was observed between CTQ total score and social cognition in MDD (p > 0.05), while it was different in HCs (TAS-20 total score: r = 0.21, p = 0.016; difficulty identifying feelings (DIF): r = 0.219, p = 0.012; perspective-taking (PT): r = -0.214, p = 0.014; recognizing neutral facial emotions: r = -0.4, p < 0.001). CTQ subtyping analysis revealed that CTQ subscale scores in MDD were significantly correlated with PT, personal distress (PD), and recognizing angry facial emotions. Interestingly, physical abuse score was positively correlated with PT in MDD (r = 0.219, p = 0.019) but negatively with PT in HCs (r = -0.276, p = 0.001).

LIMITATIONS

Insufficient sample size and cross-sectional designs.

CONCLUSION

The correlation between CT and social cognition in MDD was weakened or reversed compared to HCs, highlighting the need for further investigation to determine the cause of this specific correlation.

The relation between childhood maltreatment and hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in emerging adults: A daily diary study

BACKGROUND

Prior research has reported that childhood maltreatment is associated with poor well-being, but few studies have examined the association between childhood maltreatment and well-being including hedonic and eudaimonic well-being using a daily diary method.

OBJECTIVE

The present study investigated the association between childhood maltreatment and hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, and explored the mediating effects of social support and self-esteem.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Data were collected applying a 14-day daily diary method in two samples. A total of 120 Chinese emerging adults (100 female; M_age = 20.48 years, age range = 18-24 years) and 229 Chinese emerging adults (187 female; M_age = 20.43 years, age range = 18-27 years) comprised the discovery sample and the replication sample, respectively.

METHODS

Multilevel regression analysis and multilevel mediation analysis were conducted, while controlling for sex, age, and socioeconomic status.

RESULTS

In the discovery sample, the multilevel regression analysis showed that childhood maltreatment had an equal effect on predicting the two types of well-being. Additionally, the multilevel mediation analysis demonstrated that social support and self-esteem acted as independent and equally important mediators of the associations between childhood maltreatment and the two types of well-being. Moreover, the total indirect effect on the childhood maltreatment-hedonic well-being link had no significant difference from that on the childhood maltreatment-eudaimonic well-being link. The replication sample reconfirmed the results of the discovery sample, which provides greater credibility to our findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Social support and self-esteem might help to improve the well-being of emerging adults who have suffered childhood maltreatment, and might therefore be important intervention targets.

Cyberbullying victimization and disordered eating behaviors: The mediating roles of self-compassion and self-objectification

Previous studies have demonstrated the correlations between cyberbullying victimization and disordered eating behaviors in adolescents, however, limited attention has been paid to the long-term effects and underlying mechanisms, and studies focused on young adults are scarce. This study explored the association between cyberbullying victimization and disordered eating behaviors and the underlying mechanisms in a sample of young adults using a longitudinal design. A total of 955 Chinese young adults completed the Cyber Victim Subscale of the Cyber Victim and Bullying Scale, the Self-surveillance Subscale of the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale, the Self-compassion Scale-Short Form, and the Dutch Eating Behaviors Questionnaire three times with a 3-months interval. The results indicated that cyberbullying victimization was positively correlated with emotional eating and external eating after six months, but not with restrained eating. Moreover, self-compassion and self-objectification mediated the associations between cyberbullying victimization and the three kinds of disordered eating behaviors, however, in different ways. In the associations of cyberbullying victimization with restrained eating and external eating, the independent mediating effect of self-objectification and the serial mediating effect were significant, while in the association between cyberbullying victimization and emotional eating, only the independent mediating effect of self-compassion was significant. The findings indicated that the relations between cyberbullying with different kinds of disordered eating behaviors might have different mediation mechanisms, which sheds light on the prevention and intervention for disordered eating behaviors associated with cyberbullying in the future.

Body dissatisfaction and non-suicidal self-injury among Chinese young adults: a moderated mediation analysis

OBJECTIVE

Extensive evidence from Western societies supports the role for body dissatisfaction in the etiological models of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, research of the underlying mechanisms of this relationship has been limited, especially in China. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the association between body dissatisfaction and NSSI among college students in China. Possible mediating roles for psychological distress and disordered eating, as well as a moderating role for self-compassion, were also examined.

METHODS

College students (n = 655, M_age = 20.32 years, SD = 1.02) were recruited from Henan province, China. Each participant completed questionnaires regarding body dissatisfaction, psychological distress, disordered eating, and self-compassion.

RESULTS

A close to medium positive relationship between body dissatisfaction and NSSI was revealed with r = 0.24 (p < .001). The relationship was found to be fully mediated by psychological distress and disordered eating. The mediation role for disordered eating was found to be further moderated by self-compassion, suggesting that self-compassion acted as a buffer against the relationship between disordered eating and NSSI.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that body dissatisfaction, psychological distress, disordered eating, and self-compassion may play important roles in Chinese young adults' NSSI. Researchers and practitioners need to pay closer attention to the underlying mechanisms of how body dissatisfaction links to NSSI to deepen the understanding of their linkage as well as to provide appropriate interventions.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

Does childhood maltreatment increase the subsequent risk of problematic smartphone use among adolescents? A two-wave longitudinal study

There is a lack of longitudinal data on the relationship between childhood maltreatment and problematic smartphone use and its underlying mechanisms. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between childhood maltreatment and adolescent problematic smartphone use and explore the mediating effects of basic psychological needs and self-compassion in this relationship. We employed a two-wave longitudinal design among 890 Chinese adolescents (49.0% males, mean age at Time 2 = 15.96 ± 0.46 years). They completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale at Time 1, and the Basic Need Satisfaction Scale, the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale at Time 2. The results indicated that prior maltreatment experiences positively predicted adolescents' subsequent problematic smartphone use (p < .001); and basic psychological needs satisfaction and self-compassion did not parallelly mediate the relationship between prior maltreatment experiences and subsequent problematic smartphone use. Finally, basic psychological needs satisfaction and self-compassion completely and sequentially mediated the relationship between prior maltreatment experiences and subsequent problematic smartphone use. Interventions that target students engaging in problematic smartphone use should focus on reducing childhood maltreatment and improving their psychological needs satisfaction and self-compassion.

Does the energy consumption revolution improve the health of elderly adults in rural areas? Evidence from China

About 2.8 billion people around the world still depend on biomass as their primary energy source. This traditional custom affects the environment and severely impacts the health and life quality of the rural residents, especially in the elderly group. Based on the published data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) conducted in 2018, this paper carefully explores the impact of the energy consumption revolution on the health of rural elderly adults and its response mechanism. The results from the empirical analysis show that: (1) The positive response of rural families to the energy consumption revolution can significantly improve the elderly adults' health condition; (2) The energy consumption revolution can improve the rural elderly adults' health by enhancing the home environmental sanitation (home environmental effect) and life satisfaction (psychological effect); (3) In the process of energy consumption revolution affecting the rural elderly's health, the factor age plays a negative regulatory role, in other words, the older the elderly, the lower the marginal effect of energy consumption revolution on their health improvement. This paper uses the propensity score matching method to deal with the endogenous problem of the regression model, and uses a placebo test and the substitution estimation method to check the robustness of the empirical results. As well, this research puts forward some policy suggestions, such as increasing investment in energy infrastructure in rural areas, reducing the cost of using clean energy, combining environmental energy protection with increasing energy income, and improving medical security conditions in rural areas.