The mediating role of internalizing and externalizing symptoms in the relationship between childhood trauma and suicidality among adolescents: a structural equation model

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Gangsan Kim¹  Jiyoon Shin²  Jae-Won Kim² 

[1] Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea;Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea;Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea;

关键词: Childhood trauma;    Internalizing symptoms;    Externalizing symptoms;    Suicidality;    Structural equation model;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13034-021-00434-x

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe objective of this study is to investigate the direct and indirect effects of childhood trauma, internalizing symptoms, and externalizing symptoms on suicidality among adolescents, thereby establishing a structural equation model.MethodsThe present study uses a cross-sectional descriptive design. Among 147 adolescents aged 12–17, 93 outpatients diagnosed with major depressive disorder and 54 controls were included in the study. They completed the Early Trauma Inventory Self-Report (Short Form) and Columbia Suicidality Severity Rating Scale. Their parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist. Analyses were performed using Pearson’s correlation and structural equation modelling.ResultsChildhood trauma had both direct and indirect effects, via internalizing symptoms and externalizing symptoms, on suicidality. Internalizing symptoms had a direct effect on suicidality. Meanwhile, externalizing symptoms were not directly associated with suicidality, but indirectly associated via internalizing symptoms.ConclusionsFindings provide in-depth understanding of the mediating role of internalizing symptoms and externalizing symptoms in the relationship between childhood trauma and suicidality, suggesting that the therapeutic interventions for both internalizing symptoms and externalizing symptoms may be important to prevent suicide in adolescents with childhood trauma.

【 授权许可】

CC BY