Childhood trauma and major depression in Chinese college students: mediating role of Internet addiction and victimization of domestic violence

Abstract

Aim: Major depression disorder in adolescents has received much attention around the world. While the factors correlated with major depression in adolescents have been extensively described, the mechanisms underlying the complexity of the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and major depression have been less studied. This study investigated both the direct influence of childhood trauma on major depression and whether the mediation of domestic violence victimization and Internet addiction played a role in connecting childhood trauma to major depression. Method: The school-based mental health survey was conducted in April 2023 in northeast Chinas Heilongjiang Province. We collected sociodemographic information and targeted mental health outcomes with standardized questionnaires. Hierarchical multiple logistic regression and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data. Results: The study included 596 college students. The prevalence of major depression and Internet addiction was 31.2% and 21.6%, respectively. 16.4% of participants reported experiences of childhood trauma and 12.8% reported being victims of domestic violence. Childhood trauma, domestic violence victimization and Internet addiction have direct effects on major depression. The total effect of childhood trauma on suicidal ideation was 0.201 (p < 0.001). Domestic violence victimization and Internet addiction play mediating roles between childhood trauma and depression. Internet addiction plays a mediating role between domestic violence and major depression. Childhood trauma has direct and indirect effects on major depression of college students. Domestic violence victimization and Internet addiction play mediating roles in major depression of college students. Understanding these relationships will help develop and implement more targeted interventions and strategies to improve the mental health of Chinese college students.