Effect of childhood psychological abuse on the personality of undergraduates with depression

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of psychological abuse in childhood on the personality of undergraduates with depression as well as its possible mechanism, and thus provide scientific evidence for the intervention of depression in undergraduates. Methods Particinants were 733 undergraduates from a university in Henan Province. They were surveyed with Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (CES-D), childhood experience of care and abuse questionnaire (CECA. Q) and Eysenck personality theory (EPQ). Results the correlation between maternal antipathy and introversion-extroversion of personality;psychological abuse in childhood had apparently positive correlation with the depression in undergraduates (r = 0. 257, r = 0. 304, r =0. 243, P＜ 0. 01) and that of childhood maternal neglect to psychoticism (β = 0.206, P＜ 0.01) were positive and significant. The standard regression coefficients of paternal neglect to introversion-extroversion (β= -0. 143, P＜0. 01)were negative and significant . The scores of childhood paternal antipathy and maternal antipathy explained that childhood paternal antipathy had indirect effect via adulthood neuroticism on the depression in undergraduates,furthermore, the indirect effect demonstrated 59.8% of the total effect. Conclusion This study suggests that the personality of undergraduates with depression is affected directly by psychological abuse in childhood, and adulthood personality may mediate the relation between childhood psychological abuse and adulthood depression. Key words: Childhood psychological abuse; Personality; Depression