Volume 13, Issue 4 (Autumn 2025)
PCP 2025, 13(4): 287-298 |
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Abdolloahi M H, Mohammadkhani S, Noury R. Childhood Trauma and Substance Use Tendencies: The Mediating Effects of PTSD, Impulsivity, and Emotion Dysregulation. PCP 2025; 13 (4) :287-298
URL: http://jpcp.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-1028-en.html
URL: http://jpcp.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-1028-en.html
1- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran. ,mohammadkhani@khu.ac.ir
2- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran. ,
Abstract: (37 Views)
Objective: Although the relationship between childhood trauma and the presence of substance use tendencies (SUT) has been proven worldwide, little Iranian-based evidence exists. Nonetheless, this study is the first to empirically test such a correlation in a sample population of Iranian university students with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and impulsivity serving as mediators of this relationship.
Methods: A group of 766 Iranian university students (33.4% male and 66.6 % female; mean age=24.89) was asked to complete the validated questionnaires, which featured the childhood trauma questionnaire-short form (CTQ-SF), difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS), addiction potential scale (APS), short UPPS-P impulsive behavior scale (SUPPS-P), and posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Analyses were performed using structural equation modeling (SEM).
Results: Childhood trauma was strongly related to greater impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, PTSD symptoms, and SUT. These psychological factors significantly mediate childhood trauma in SUT.
Conclusion: These results underscore the necessity of developing specific interventions that would focus on impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and PTSD symptoms, to decrease the risk of SUT among Iranian university students with a history of childhood trauma.
Methods: A group of 766 Iranian university students (33.4% male and 66.6 % female; mean age=24.89) was asked to complete the validated questionnaires, which featured the childhood trauma questionnaire-short form (CTQ-SF), difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS), addiction potential scale (APS), short UPPS-P impulsive behavior scale (SUPPS-P), and posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Analyses were performed using structural equation modeling (SEM).
Results: Childhood trauma was strongly related to greater impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, PTSD symptoms, and SUT. These psychological factors significantly mediate childhood trauma in SUT.
Conclusion: These results underscore the necessity of developing specific interventions that would focus on impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and PTSD symptoms, to decrease the risk of SUT among Iranian university students with a history of childhood trauma.
Keywords: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), Substance use, Impulsive behavior, Emotion regulation, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Type of Study: Original Research Article |
Subject:
Substance abuse and dependence
Received: 2025/01/23 | Accepted: 2025/03/17 | Published: 2025/10/1
Received: 2025/01/23 | Accepted: 2025/03/17 | Published: 2025/10/1
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