The mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation in the relationship between childhood trauma and psychological symptoms

Objective: In this study, the mediating effects of non-adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies on the relationship between childhood traumas and psychological symptoms were investigated. Method: The study was conducted with 422 participants between the ages of 18-50. The research was completed online. First of all, after the consent form was filled out; Socio-Demographic Information Form, Childhood Trauma Scale (CTQ-33), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies, Short Symptom Inventory Scale were given. In order to examine the effects of sociodemographic variables on childhood traumas, cognitive emotion regulation strategies, depression and somatization, t-test and ANOVA analyzes was used. Pearson Correlation Analysis, Regression analysis and mediator variable analysis were used to test the hypotheses. Result: As a result of the analyzes, a positive relationship between childhood traumas and depression and somatization; a positive relationship between childhood traumas and non- adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies; and a positive relationship between non- adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and depression and somatization were found. The results of the mediator analyses indicated a partial mediating effect of rumination between childhood traumas and depression; and partial mediating effect of catastrophizing between childhood traumas and somatizaiton. Conclusion: Traumatic events experienced during childhood can affect the individual's later life. Individuals with high childhood trauma scores were found to have high depression and somatization scores. The finding of the research will contribute to the literature by revealing the relationship between childhood traumas and depression and somatization, and the relationship between non-adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Keywords: Childhood Traumas, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies, Depression, Somatization