The Mediating Role of Childhood Trauma in the Relationship between Affective and Emotional Temperament and Self-harm Behaviors

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the Affective and Emotional Temperament on self-harm behaviors satisfaction mediated by the childhood trauma.

The Method of the present study was descriptive-correlational research using structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method. The statistical population of the research was all students between the ages of 18 and 25 in the city of Mashhad that 630 of them were selected through convenience sampling technique. From 630 questionnaires that were distributed among the participants, a total of 623 questionnaires fulfilled the required analysis criteria. The instruments for data collection included The Deliberate SelfHarm Inventory, The Affective and Emotional Composite Temperament (AFECT) scale and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique. 

The results indicated that the hypothesized model had a good fit with the observed data. Affective and Emotional Temperament showed a significantly correlation with selfharm behaviors. Path analysis indicated that the relation between Affective and Emotional Temperament and self-harm behaviors mediated by childhood trauma. Concluion: Considering these variables are important in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of self-harm behaviors as well as in promoting mental health among general population.