The relationship between childhood trauma experience and psychological distress in adults: the mediating role of rumination and mindfulness

There is a large body of evidence that suggests a relationship between childhood trauma and psychological distress, but relatively few studies have examined potential mediating factors for this relationship. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the mediating role of rumination and mindfulness in the relationship between childhood trauma and psychological distress.

The research method was descriptive-correlation. The statistical population of the research was made up of all people referring to clinics and psychological service centers in Tehran. Among the statistical population, 300 people were selected by convenience sampling method. The research tools were: Bernstein et al.'s childhood trauma questionnaire (2003), Nolen-Hoeksema's rumination response scale (1991), Brown & Ryan’s mindfulness assessment scale (2003) and Kessler's psychological distress questionnaire (2003). Pearson correlation, structural equation modeling and SPSS and AMOS version 23 software were used for data analysis.

The results showed that the research model has a good fit. The coefficients of the direct paths of childhood trauma (T = 8.041, β = 0.262), mindfulness (T = -56.421, β = -0.896) and Rumination (T = 5.519, β = 0.163) were significant on psychological distress. Also, indirect coefficients of traumatic life events through rumination and mindfulness on psychological distress were significant.

The results indicated the mediating role of rumination and mindfulness between childhood trauma experience and psychological distress. The findings of this study provide us with an important clinical concept that rumination and mindfulness should be a goal for the prevention and treatment of psychological distress in victims of childhood trauma.