Mohammedhamid Osman Kelifa1, Yinmei Yang2, Carly Herbert3, Qiqiang He2, Peigang Wang4. 1. School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Asmara, Meakel, Eritrea. 2. School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China. 3. University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. 4. School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China. Electronic address: wpg926@whu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are well recognized remote risks for adulthood depression. However, proximal processes for this relationship is still an ongoing research endeavor, particularly among college students living in resource-limited settings. The mechanism of the impact of ACEs on depression may be attributed to mediators such as psychological resilience and current stressful events (CSEs). METHODS: Data was obtained using a cross-sectional study from a national representative sample of college undergraduates in Eritrea (N = 507). To explain the mediated effect of ACEs on depression, a mediation analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed. RESULTS: ACEs were found to have both direct (β = 0.102, p = 0.023) and indirect (β = 0.216, p < 0.001) effects on depression. The indirect effect was negatively mediated by psychological resilience and positively by CSEs. Respondents with higher levels of psychological resilience reported lower depressive symptoms and lower ACEs scores, while those with higher scores of either CSEs or ACEs reported more depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of ACEs on depression may be reduced by managing current stressors and building students' psychological resilience.
BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are well recognized remote risks for adulthood depression. However, proximal processes for this relationship is still an ongoing research endeavor, particularly among college students living in resource-limited settings. The mechanism of the impact of ACEs on depression may be attributed to mediators such as psychological resilience and current stressful events (CSEs). METHODS: Data was obtained using a cross-sectional study from a national representative sample of college undergraduates in Eritrea (N = 507). To explain the mediated effect of ACEs on depression, a mediation analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed. RESULTS: ACEs were found to have both direct (β = 0.102, p = 0.023) and indirect (β = 0.216, p < 0.001) effects on depression. The indirect effect was negatively mediated by psychological resilience and positively by CSEs. Respondents with higher levels of psychological resilience reported lower depressive symptoms and lower ACEs scores, while those with higher scores of either CSEs or ACEs reported more depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of ACEs on depression may be reduced by managing current stressors and building students' psychological resilience.
Authors: Eduardo Sandoval-Obando; Marta Alcaide; Miguel Salazar-Muñoz; Sebastián Peña-Troncoso; Claudio Hernández-Mosqueira; Sofia Gimenez-Serrano Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-12-21 Impact factor: 3.390