The mediating role of experiential avoidance in the relationship between childhood traumas and psychological well-being in young adults

This study aims to investigate the mediating role of experiential avoidance in the relationship between childhood trauma and psychological well-being. The sample of the study consisted of 595 participants (440 females (74%) and 155 males (26%)) aged 18-35 living in Turkey. The study is quantitative and designed to examine the relationships between variables using mediation analysis. Data are collected using the Psychological Well-Being Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire 2 and Demographic Information Form. Independent samples t-tests are used to determine differences between groups and Pearson correlation analysis is used to determine the relationship between variables. PROCESS Macro Model 4 analysis was used to test mediation effects. According to the analyses conducted with demographic variables, it has been found that the participants' levels of childhood trauma, psychological well-being, and experiential avoidance differed in terms of having a psychiatric diagnosis. Correlation analysis results shows that there are negative and significant relationships between childhood trauma and its subdimensions (physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect) and psychological well-being. Experiential avoidance is found to be negatively and significantly correlated with psychological well-being and positively and significantly correlated with childhood trauma and its subdimensions. The mediation analysis findings showed that experiential avoidance fully mediates the relationship between emotional abuse and physical abuse subdimensions and psychological well-being. Partial mediation effect of experiential avoidance is found in the relationship between emotional neglect and psychological well-being. The results are discussed in light of the relevant literature and suggestions are made. Keywords: Childhood Trauma, Psychological Well-being, Experiential Avoidance