Role of Childhood Trauma Dimensions in Predicting Social Cognition in Students

Subject Areas : Journal of Excellence in counseling and psychotherapy

Ameneh Bakhshizadeh ¹ , Hossein Ebrahimi Moghaddam ² , Malek Mirhashemi ³

1 - PhD student in psychology, Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen Branch, Iran.
2 - Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen Branch, Iran.
3 - Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen Branch, Iran.

Received: 2024-01-09 Accepted : 2024-05-30 Published : 2024-06-13

Keywords: Childhood trauma, neglect, abuse, Social Cognition.,

Abstract :

 

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the dimensions of childhood trauma in predicting social cognition.

Methodology: The research method was descriptive and correlational. The statistical population consisted of students of Roudehen Islamic Azad University aged 20 and above who were studying in the academic year (1400-1401), and 336 students were selected through available sampling. Data for this research were collected using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) (Baron-Cohen, 2001) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) (Bernstein, 2003). Data analysis was performed using multiple regression methods with SPSS-27 software.

Findings: The findings indicated that dimensions of childhood trauma (physical neglect, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical abuse) were able to negatively and inversely predict social cognition (P < 0.001, P < 0.05), and emotional neglect with a beta coefficient of -0.31 and physical neglect with a beta coefficient of -0.29 were the strongest predictors of problems in social cognition among students.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that individuals who have experienced childhood trauma may exhibit deficiencies in social cognition, which can have significant consequences and lead to deficits in various aspects of social understanding and difficulties in perceiving the emotions and intentions of others. Therefore, social and psychological interventions should be implemented to prevent and reduce the long-term adverse effects of childhood trauma.

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