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. 2023 Apr 13:1-11.
doi: 10.1007/s12144-023-04613-1. Online ahead of print.

The impact of adverse childhood experiences on depression: the role of insecure attachment styles and emotion dysregulation strategies

Zilan Ye  1   2 , Xiaoqi Wei  3 , Jieting Zhang  3   4 , Huilin Li  3 , Jiageng Cao  3
Affiliations

The impact of adverse childhood experiences on depression: the role of insecure attachment styles and emotion dysregulation strategies

Zilan Ye et al. Curr Psychol. .

Abstract

Objectives: The previous studies have reported that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have detrimental effects on victims' attachment styles, emotion regulation strategies and depression. How the insecure attachment styles and emotion dysregulation strategies play a role in the relationship between ACEs and depression among Chinese university students remains unclear. Methods: The research was made known to students studying at universities in China. Five hundred and eighty-nine college students completed questionnaires measuring ACEs, insecure attachment styles, emotion dysregulation strategies and depression. Sequential chain mediation model was built by Mplus. Results: The model showed that insecure attachment styles and emotion dysregulation strategies mediated the relationship between ACEs and depression respectively. Moreover, the sequential chain mediation showed an indirect path (ACEs - insecure attachment styles - emotion dysregulation strategies - depression). Conclusion: Following childhood adversities, students can experience elevated depression which is influenced by attachment styles and emotion regulation strategies.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-023-04613-1.

Keywords: Adverse childhood experiences; Depression; Emotion dysregulation strategies; Insecure attachment Styles.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestAll the authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Hypothesized Structure Equation Model
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The Structure Equation Model of Association between ACEs and Depression
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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