Relationship between emotional neglect in childhood and depressive symptoms in university students: chain mediating role of adult attachment and self-compassion
YUAN Ningjie1, SONG Jingjie2, SONG Anran1, WU Haomeng3, XIONG Minghui1, CHENG Dandan1
1. College of Health Sciences, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, Shandong Province, China; 2. Department of Student Affairs, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, Shandong Province, China; 3. School of Education, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China
Abstract：Objective To investigate the associations among childhood emotional neglect, adult attachment, self-compassion, and depressive symptoms in university students. Methods A total of 726 university students were measured by using the childhood trauma questionnaire, short form（CTQ-SF）, experiences in close relationships inventory（ECR）, self-compassion scale, and center for epidemiological studies depression scale（CES-D）. The relevant data were statistically analyzed. Results The correlation analysis showed that emotional neglect was significantly positively correlated withattachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and depressive symptoms（r=0.18-0.31, P<0.01）, but significantly negatively correlated with self-compassion（r=-0.21, P<0.01）. Attachment anxiety was significantly negatively correlated with self-compassion（r=-0.37, P<0.01）and significantly positively correlated with depressive symptoms（r=0.53，P<0.01）. Attachment avoidance was significantly negatively correlated with self-compassion（r=-0.22, P<0.01）and significantlypositively correlated with depressive symptoms（r=0.36, P<0.01）. Self-compassion was significantly negatively correlated with depressive symptoms（r=-0.56, P<0.01）. The mediation effect analysis indicated that the direct effect of childhood emotional neglect on depressive symptoms was significant, and the independent mediating effects of adult attachment and self-compassion, as well as their chain mediating effect, were also significant. Conclusion Childhood emotional neglect is an important factor affecting the depressive symptoms of university students, and adult attachment and self-compassion play a chain mediating role in the relationship.
苑宁杰，宋婧杰，宋安然，吴昊蒙，熊明慧，成丹丹. 儿童期情感忽视和大学生抑郁症状的关系：成人依恋与自我同情的链式中介作用[J]. 教育生物学杂志, 2025, 13(1): 16-.
YUAN Ningjie, SONG Jingjie, SONG Anran, WU Haomeng, XIONG Minghui, CHENG Dandan. Relationship between emotional neglect in childhood and depressive symptoms in university students: chain mediating role of adult attachment and self-compassion. JOURNAL OF BIO-EDUCATION, 2025, 13(1): 16-.
