The Relationship Between Traumatic Childhood Traumatic Experiences and Mental Health with the Mediating Role of Coping Strategies

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Master of Science in General Psychology, Northern Strategy Institute of Higher Education, Rasht, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Northern Strategy Institute of Higher Education, Rasht, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and general health with the mediating role of coping strategies.

Method: The research used a descriptive-correlation path analysis method. The statistical population consisted of undergraduate students from non-profit institutions in Rasht city in 2022-2023 academic year. 173 students were selected by cluster random sampling to complete Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Bernstein et al.'s Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and Lazarus and Folkman's Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ).Pearson correlation coefficient, path analysis model, and SPSS and AMOS software were used to analyze statistical data.

Results: The results showed that emotional neglect and emotional abuse had a direct effect on coping strategies and general health, whereas physical and sexual abuse only affected general health. Additionally, physical neglect influenced only coping strategies. Moreover, emotion-focused coping mediated the relationship between emotional abuse and general health, while problem-focused coping did not have a mediating role. Both emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies significantly mediated the relationship between emotional and physical neglect with general health and had a direct impact on general health.

Conclusion: Based on the results, it can be said that childhood trauma experiences can affected collegians' genera health through the mediation of coping strategies. Therefore, psychological interventions that aim to strengthen coping strategies and reduce the negative effects of childhood adversities can play an effective role in improving the general health of university students

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Clinical Psychology
Volume 17, Issue 3 - Serial Number 67
September 2025
Pages 111-125

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History

  • Receive Date: 17 March 2025
  • Revise Date: 06 August 2025
  • Accept Date: 28 June 2025

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