Predicting the Depression Symptoms by Childhood Traumas in Male Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to predict the depression symptoms in male students by childhood trauma. The research method was descriptive correlational. The study population consisted of all male elementary and secondary high school students in public schools of Robat Karim (Tehran Province) during the academic year of 2020-2021. 310 students were selected by multi-stage random sampling and answered to the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and Children's Depression Inventory. Data were analyzed through the Pearson correlation and standard regression. The results of this study showed that the linear combination of childhood trauma variables (emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect and physical neglect) predict student depression significantly. Among childhood traumas, emotional abuse and physical abuse predict depression in students significantly. Physical neglect, emotional neglect and sexual abuse did not predict depression symptoms significantly. The present model was also able to explain 25% of the variance of depression in students. Findings of this study support the significant role of emotional abuse and physical abuse on depression symptoms. Therefore, considering the childhood trauma is recommended to clinicians in the treatment of student depression.

Keywords

• childhood trauma
• depression symptoms
• students