The relationship between childhood adversities and complex posttraumatic stress symptoms: a multiple mediation model

Abstract

Background: There is a growing research literature on complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), yet studies that focused on Chinese populations are still limited. Accumulating evidence showed that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with a higher likelihood of CPTSD symptoms, but potential mediating roles of self-kindness and selfjudgement on the ACEs-CPTSD relationship remain understudied. Objective: The purpose of this study was to first examine the relationship between ACEs and CPTSD among Chinese college students, and then to test the mediating role of self-kindness and self-judgement on the ACEs-CPTSD relationship. Method: The study included 1361 college students for an online survey in May 2020. Demographic variables (e.g. age, gender, having sibling[s] or not, residence, family structure, and subjective socioeconomic status), ACEs, self-compassion (self-kindness and self-judgement subscales), and CPTSD symptoms were assessed. After controlling for demographic variables, a series of structural equation models tested the mediation hypothesis: indirect effects of selfkindness and self-judgement on the relationship between ACEs and CPTSD symptom. Results: ACEs of College students were positively associated with more severe CPTSD symptoms (posttraumatic stress disorder and disturbances in self-organization symptoms). Furthermore, these direct pathways were mediated by decreased self-kindness and increased self-judgement. Conclusions: Findings have substantial theoretical and treatment implications, including the two critical targets (i.e. lowering self-judgement and raising self-kindness) when treating complex PTSD. La relación entre las adversidades en la infancia y los síntomas de estrés postraumático complejo: un modelo de mediación múltipleAntecedentes: existe una creciente literatura de investigación sobre el trastorno de estrés postraumático complejo (TEPT-C), sin embargo, los estudios centrados en la población China aún son limitados. La evidencia acumulada mostró que las experiencias adversas de la infancia (ACEs en sus siglas en inglés) están asociadas con una mayor probabilidad de síntomas de TEPT-C, pero los posibles roles mediadores de la bondad hacia uno mismo y auto-juicio propio en la relación ACE-TEPT-C siguen siendo poco estudiados. Objetivo: El propósito de este estudio fue examinar primero la relación entre ACE y TEPT-C entre estudiantes universitarios chinos, y luego probar el papel mediador de la bondad y el auto-juicio en la relación ACE-TEPT-C. Método: El estudio incluyó a 1361 estudiantes universitarios para una encuesta en línea en mayo del 2020. Variables demográficas (por ejemplo, edad, sexo, tener hermanos o no, residencia, estructura familiar y estatus socioeconómico subjetivo), ACE, autocompasión (subescalas de auto-bondad y auto-juicio), y se evaluaron los síntomas de TEPT-C. Después de controlar las variables demográficas, una serie de modelos de ecuaciones estructurales probaron la hipótesis de la mediación: los efectos indirectos de la bondad personal y el ...

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