Childhood Trauma, Psychological Adjustment, and Self-Critical Rumination: Examining Longitudinal Mediation

Abstract

Childhood trauma is a significant precursor to long-term psychological distress and a well-established risk factor for interpersonal violence and revictimization across the lifespan. Despite its well-established impact, there are no longitudinal studies that examine the relationships between childhood trauma, psychological adjustment, and self-critical rumination in a Turkish sample. This study aimed to fill this gap by examining these relationships in 244 adults (Female = 194, Male = 50) over two waves, 3 months apart. The Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale, Brief Psychological Adjustment Scale, and Self-Critical Rumination Scale were used for data collection. In this study, a cross-lagged panel model with a half-longitudinal design is used. Results indicated that psychological adjustment fully mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and self-critical rumination. The model fit indices were within acceptable limits (χ 2 [8, N = 244] = 26.93, χ 2 / df = 3.36, p < .001; GFI = 0.97; NFI = 0.93; IFI = 0.95; CFI = 0.95; SRMR = 0.069). This finding highlights that childhood trauma continues to affect individuals into adulthood, specifically by undermining their psychological adjustment, which in turn predicts higher levels of self-critical rumination. The observed mediation model suggests a critical psychological pathway: These intrapersonal processes (poor adjustment and self-criticism) are significant, yet often overlooked, mechanisms that increase vulnerability to both perpetrating and experiencing interpersonal conflict and violence. In conclusion, this model suggests that improving psychological adjustment and reducing self-critical rumination in violence-prone individuals is a critical area of intervention for the prevention of interpersonal violence and negative relationship behaviors.