The Effect of Childhood Psychological Abuse on Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents Exposed to Campus Suicide: The Chain Mediating Role of Psychological Trauma and Anxiety Symptoms

TL;DR

Childhood psychological abuse increases the risk of depression in adolescents exposed to campus suicide through trauma and anxiety.

Contribution

This study identifies a chain mediation pathway linking childhood psychological abuse to depressive symptoms via psychological trauma and anxiety.

Findings

Childhood psychological abuse has a direct effect on depressive symptoms.

The chain mediation pathway CPA → psychological trauma → anxiety → depressive symptoms is significant.

Interventions should target anxiety in trauma-exposed youth with a history of childhood psychological abuse.

Abstract

Exposure to campus suicide poses a significant threat to adolescent mental health. While childhood psychological abuse (CPA) is a known vulnerability factor for depression, the mechanisms linking this early adversity to depressive symptoms (DS) following acute trauma remain unclear. This study aimed to test a chain mediation model where CPA contributes to DS through the sequential effects of psychological trauma (PT) and anxiety symptoms (AS). In a cross-sectional study of 1603 adolescents exposed to a campus suicide event, participants completed self-report measures for CPA, PT, AS, and DS. Chain mediation analysis revealed a significant direct effect of CPA on DS. More importantly, the hypothesized chain mediation pathway (CPA → PT → AS → DS) was significant and was identified as the most substantial indirect route. A key asymmetry emerged: the direct effect of CPA on DS remained robust, whereas its direct effect on AS became non-significant when controlling for DS. These findings suggest that CPA establishes a specific vulnerability to depression that, when activated by an acute stressor, initiates a pathological cascade. Interventions for suicide-exposed youth should be trauma-informed, prioritizing those with a CPA history and targeting emergent anxiety to interrupt the progression to severe depression.

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