Association between childhood trauma and affective lability among adolescents: A moderated mediation model

Abstract

Background: Affective lability is an important feature of psychopathology. However, there is limited relevant research involving adolescents. To fill this research gap, the present study assessed the relationship between childhood trauma and affective lability among adolescents using a moderated mediation model.

Methods: A total of 3738 students were recruited from four high schools in Shenzhen, China, between September and December 2019. The participants completed self-reported questionnaires measuring childhood trauma, affective lability, body image dissatisfaction, and the experience of being bullied. Linear regression and moderated mediation analyses were used in this study.

Results: Linear regression analysis showed that emotional abuse and body image dissatisfaction positively predicted affective lability in boys and girls (all p < 0.001). Body image dissatisfaction mediated the relationship between emotional abuse and affective lability. In the moderated mediation model, being bullied moderated the direct path from emotional abuse to affective lability (p = 0.0236, p = 0.0188), and gender did not have a significant moderating effect on any direct or indirect path (all p > 0.05).

Limitations: A causal relationship could not be ascertained due to the cross-sectional design, and the results cannot be generalized to other populations.

Conclusions: The findings support that childhood trauma has an impact on affective lability in adolescents. Specifically, body image dissatisfaction and being bullied affect the relationship between emotional abuse and affective lability.

Keywords: Affective lability; Being bullied; Body image; Childhood trauma; Moderated mediation model.