Childhood maltreatment and suicidal ideation in Chinese children and adolescents: the mediating role of mindfulness

Abstract

Background Childhood maltreatment (CM) has been associated with suicidal ideation (SI) in children and adolescents, yet the mediating role of mindfulness in this association remains unclear. This study aims to test the mediation of mindfulness in CM-SI association among a large sample of Chinese children and adolescents. Methods A population-based cross-sectional study of 3455 children and adolescents aged 10–17 years from southwest China Yunnan province was conducted. Information from the participants was collected by using a comprehensive self-administered questionnaire. The Chinese version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI) were used to measure CM, mindfulness and SI. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to estimate the crude and adjusted associations between CM, mindfulness and SI (one-week, one-year, lifetime). Pathway analysis was subsequently performed to test the mediation of mindfulness in CM-SI association. Results The findings showed that mindfulness, CM and SI were significantly correlated with each other (p < 0.05). Mindfulness is a significant mediator in CM-SI association, accounted for 7.5, 11.4, and 17.6% of the total associations for one-week SI, one-year SI, and lifetime SI, respectively. For the five types of CM, the highest level of mediation via mindfulness had been found for physical neglect (PN) and one-year SI (34.3%), followed by emotional neglect (EN) and one-year SI (30.2%), sexual abuse (SA) and one-year SI (25.4%). Conclusions Our study findings highlight the intervention potential of mindfulness in preventing CM associated suicidal risk. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to corroborate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based intervention for Chinese children and adolescents.

Childhood maltreatment, peer victimization, borderline personality feature, suicidal risk in adolescents: Direct and indirect associations among developmental trajectories

“…This study indicated that initial levels of childhood maltreatment, peer victimization were positively related to initial levels of suicidal risk in adolescents, which aligned with previous research reporting that adolescents presented with higher levels of childhood maltreatment, peer victimization tend to show higher levels of suicidal risk (e.g., van Geel et al, 2022;Liang et al, 2022). Moreover, the current study also revealed that changes in childhood maltreatment, peer victimization were positively related to changes in suicidal risk.…”

“…Childhood maltreatment, encompassing physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect endured by individuals below 18 years old (World Health Organization, 2006), has been posited as a vital contributor to suicidal risk in adolescents (Liang et al, 2022). Moreover, during adolescence, interpersonal relationships among adolescents transition gradually from being centered around parents to being centered around peers.…”

“…For instance, Yang et al (2019) conducted a study with 6139 Chinese secondary school students and found a positive relation between physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and suicidal ideation and attempts. Similarly, Liang et al (2022) conducted a cross-sectional study among 3455 children and adolescents, which indicated that childhood maltreatment predicted higher levels of 1-week, 1-year, and lifetime suicidal ideation. These studies collectively emphasize the link between childhood maltreatment and suicidal risk, demonstrating a consistent pattern of findings.…”

“…Therefore, it is imperative to comprehend the underlying risk factors to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies for addressing adolescent suicide. Previous research has indicated that childhood maltreatment, peer victimization, and borderline personality feature may serve as crucial precursors to suicidal risk (the overall risk of suicide; including suicidal ideation, suicide plans, suicide attempts, the threat of suicidal behavior, and the potential for future suicidal behavior; Osman et al, 2001) in adolescents (e.g., van Geel et al, 2022; Liang et al, 2022; Peters et al, 2019). Furthermore, based on Linehan's Biosocial Theory (Linehan, 1993), the development of borderline personality disorder (BPD) or borderline personality feature is viewed as a dynamic interaction between inherent vulnerabilities in regulating emotions and environments that invalidate these emotions.…”

Longitudinal Association between Stressful Life Events and Suicidal Ideation in Adults with Major Depression Disorder: The Mediating Effects of Insomnia Symptoms

“…Life adversities during critical developmental stages of life, especially childhood, are associated with more severe and persistent symptoms that negatively affect health outcomes [ 50 ]. In addition, it is reported that physical abuse could increase the risk of suicide tendency in adolescents [ 51 ], young people [ 52 ], persons with MDD [ 53 ], bipolar disorder [ 54 ], midlife [ 55 ], and veterans [ 42 ], indicating that childhood physical trauma experiences have a strong impact on suicide risk. The results from our study are in accordance with prior studies, wherein a history of exposure to childhood physical abuse was significantly associated with suicidal behaviors.…”