Cognitive factors as mediators of the relationship between childhood trauma and depression symptoms: the mediating roles of cognitive overgeneralisation, rumination, and social problem-solving

• Published in: European journal of psychotraumatology 2024, Vol.15 (1), p.2320041
• Main Authors: Dehghan Manshadi, Zobeydeh, Neshat-Doost, Hamid Taher, Jobson, Laura
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adverse Childhood Experiences; childhood maltreatment; Childhood traumatic experiences; Clinical; Cognition; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Humans; Iran - epidemiology; major depressive disorder; overgeneral autobiographical memory; overgeneralisation across situations; self-overgeneralisation; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2000-8066; 2000-8066
• DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2320041

Childhood trauma has negative immediate and long-term impacts on depression. Questions remain, however, regarding the cognitive factors influencing this relationship. This study aimed to investigate the role of three cognitive factors - cognitive overgeneralisation, rumination and social problem-solving - as mediating factors in the relationship between childhood trauma and symptoms of depression. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Iran from March to July 2023. Participants (  = 227; Mean age 32.44 ± 8.95 years) with depression completed measures of childhood trauma, depression, self-overgeneralisation, cognitive errors, memory specificity, rumination and social problem-solving. The conceptual model was assessed using structural equation modelling. Structural equation modelling indicated that childhood trauma had a positive direct effect on depression symptoms. Childhood trauma had a positive indirect effect on depression symptoms through both self-overgeneralisation and rumination and a negative indirect effect on depression through effective social problem-solving strategies. The findings suggest increased exposure to childhood trauma may be associated with elevated depression and self-overgeneralisation, rumination, and effective social problem-solving strategies may play an important role in this relationship. These findings hold potential implications for those working with patients with depression and a history of childhood trauma.