Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Depression: The Mediating Role of Mindfulness

Subject Areas : Tectonostratigraphy

Ani Christy Manvelian ¹ , Mehrnaz Azadyekta ²

1 - M.Sc. Student in General Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Electronic Branch, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor ،Department of psychology .Islamshahr branch,Islamic Azad university.islamshahr. Iran

Received: 2022-09-12 Accepted : 2023-02-12 Published : 2023-01-21

Keywords: Depression, mindfulness, Adverse childhood experiences,

Abstract :

Introduction and Objectives: Adverse childhood experiences may impair a person's ability to develop healthy and constructive coping mechanisms as well as mental resources to manage later life stressors. This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and depression (mediating role of mindfulness).
Materials and Methods: The present research was of the correlational type in terms of the applied goal and in terms of the contextualization method. The statistical population of all young people in Tehran in 2021 was a statistical sample of 280 people, and the tools used were adverse childhood experiences questionnaire (2004), depression questionnaire (2010) and mindfulness questionnaire (2006).
Results: The results showed that the proposed model was approved, because the value of the root mean square error of estimation (RMSEA) was in the optimal range (less than 0.08) and in addition, the fit indices (NFI, IFI, CFI, GFI) were favourable (more than 0.9). According to the findings, adverse childhood experiences have influenced depression with the mediating role of mindfulness (observation, description, action with awareness, non-judgment and non-reaction).
Discussion and Conclusion: The results showed that aspects of mindfulness significantly mediate the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and depression. Negative cognitions associated with adverse childhood experiences may impair a person's ability to effectively describe feelings and be fully aware of the present moment, which may contribute to depressive symptoms.