The Association Between Childhood Cumulative Trauma and Depressive Symptoms in Emerging Adulthood: The Mediating Role of Perceived Stress

doi:10.12139/j.1672-0628.2026.01.008

Abstract

Abstract: Based on the cumulative risk model, this study aimed to evaluate the association between childhood cumulative trauma and depressive symptoms and to examine the mediating role of perceived stress in emerging adulthood. A total of 548 emerging adults were followed, with survey data collected over a one-year period. The results revealed that: 1) A linear relationship was found between cumulative childhood trauma and depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood, such that individuals with more cumulative traumatic experiences were more likely to exhibit depressive symptoms. 2) The direct predictive effect of cumulative childhood trauma on depressive symptoms was significant, whereas that of single childhood trauma was not significant. 3) Perceived stress was found to partially mediate the association between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood. It also mediated the predictive effects of both single and cumulative trauma on depressive symptoms.

Key words: childhood cumulative trauma, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, emerging adulthood, mediating mechanism

摘要： 基于累积风险模型，探讨童年累积创伤对成年早期抑郁症状的影响，并同时考察压力知觉的整体与相对中介作用机制。本研究对548名成年早期个体进行了问卷调查，并在1年后实施追踪测量。结果显示：(1)童年累积创伤与成年早期抑郁症状之间存在线性关系，即累积的童年创伤经历越多，成年早期抑郁症状的发病率越高；(2)童年累积创伤正向预测成年早期抑郁症状，而单一童年创伤对抑郁症状的直接预测作用不显著；(3)在考虑整体中介效应或相对中介效应时，压力知觉均是关键的中介机制。具体而言，压力知觉不仅在童年创伤与成年早期抑郁症状间起部分中介作用，在童年创伤多分类情况下，压力知觉还介导了单一童年创伤和童年累积创伤与成年早期抑郁症状之间的关系。

关键词: 童年累积创伤, 抑郁症状, 压力知觉, 成年早期, 中介机制

CLC Number:

B844

ZHAO Xian, LI Zhihua. The Association Between Childhood Cumulative Trauma and Depressive Symptoms in Emerging Adulthood: The Mediating Role of Perceived Stress[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2026, 24(1): 69-77.

赵纤, 黎志华. 童年累积创伤对成年早期抑郁症状的影响：压力知觉的中介机制[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2026, 24(1): 69-77.

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