The Influence of Childhood Trauma Experiences on Social Avoidance and Distress in Secondary School Students: The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital

Xiangna Kong; Xi Ming

doi:10.54691/01q83f81

Authors

Xiangna Kong
Xi Ming

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54691/01q83f81

Keywords:

Childhood trauma; social avoidance and distress; psychological capital; mediating effect.

Abstract

Objective: To explore the influencing mechanism of childhood trauma experiences on social avoidance and distress among middle school students, and to examine the mediating role of psychological capital. Methods: A total of 389 middle school students were investigated by using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SAD), and the Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PPQ).Results: Childhood trauma experiences significantly positively predicted social avoidance and distress, and negatively predicted psychological capital. Psychological capital played a partial mediating role between childhood trauma experiences and social avoidance and distress, with the mediating effect accounting for 31.40%.Conclusion: Reducing childhood trauma experiences and enhancing psychological capital can alleviate middle school students’ social avoidance and distress to a certain extent.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] World Health Organization. (2020). Child maltreatment. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/child-maltreatment

[2] Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., et al. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245-258. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00017-8.

[3] Li, R. Q., & Yu, Y. L. (2024). The mediating role of self-esteem between adverse childhood experiences and social avoidance and distress among college students. Journal of Guangdong Medical University, 42(4), 437-440.

[4] Jensen, S. M. (2003). Entrepreneurs as leaders: Impact of psychological capital and perceptions of authenticity on venture performance [Doctoral dissertation]. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

[5] Wan, H. (2023). Research on college students' psychological capital and its promotion strategies from the perspective of positive psychology. Western Journal, (6), 132-136.

[6] Yu, J. X., Fu, X. W., Xu, J., & Zhang, M. (2025). Chain mediating effect of psychological capital and core self-evaluation between childhood trauma and social adaptation among vocational students. Occupation and Health, 41(13), 1813-1817.

[7] Bernstein, D. P. (1998). Childhood Trauma Questionnaire: A retrospective self-report manual. The Psychological Corporation.

[8] Cui, L. X., Luo, X. J., & Xiao, J. (2011). Effects of childhood trauma on trait depression and trait anxiety: Specificity of schema mediation. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 43(10), 1163-1174.

[9] Watson, D., & Friend, R. (1969). Measurement of social-evaluative anxiety. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 33(4), 448-457. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0027860.

[10] Zhang, K., Zhang, S., & Dong, Y. H. (2010). Positive psychological capital: Its measurement and relationship with mental health. Studies in Psychology and Behavior, 8(1), 58-64.

[11] Zhang, Y. N., Qiao, Z. X., Zhou, J. W., et al. (2021). College students' psychological capital and mobile phone addiction: The mediating roles of perceived stress and negative emotion and the moderating role of social support. Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science, 30(3), 250-255.

[12] Hou, W. J., Fan, X. G., & Zhao, F. C. (2019). Research progress on clinical application of post-traumatic growth. Journal of International Psychiatry, 46(3), 406-408+416.