TY - JOUR PY - 2021// TI - The interactions between childhood adversities and recent stress were associated with early-adulthood depression among Chinese undergraduate students JO - Depression and anxiety A1 - Li, Xiaojing A1 - Guo, Wanjun A1 - Tang, Wanjie A1 - Lv, Qiuyue A1 - Zhang, Yamin A1 - Yu, Hua A1 - Wang, Qiang A1 - Deng, Wei A1 - Zhao, Liansheng A1 - Ma, Xiaohong A1 - Meng, Yajing A1 - Li, Mingli A1 - Wang, Huiyao A1 - Chen, Ting A1 - Liu, Yan-Song A1 - Tang, Zhen A1 - Du, Xiang-Dong A1 - Greenshaw, Andrew J. A1 - Li, Tao SP - ePub EP - ePub VL - ePub IS - ePub N2 - BACKGROUND: It is widely acknowledged that childhood adversities (CAs) and recent stress are potential risk factors for adult depression. However, the mechanism(s) by which interactions of CAs with recent stress affect adult depression remain unclear. AIMS: To investigate the predictive association of the interaction among CAs and recent stress with early-adult depression.

METHOD: We conducted an annual survey of all freshmen for the period of 2016-2018 in a Chinese comprehensive university, with a sample size of 23,206. An online questionnaire including standardized self-report instruments was used to assess sociodemographic factors, childhood experiences of left-behind (CELB), and maltreatments (CEMTs) including beating (CEB), neglect (CEN), sexual abuse (CESA), recent stress, and current depression (measured by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire).

RESULTS: The correlation of Individual CAs and recent stress was significant. In addition to their significant independent/direct incremental effects, all surveyed CAs were associated with increased severity of early-adult depression, and increased frequency of clinically significant depression (CSD), through significant associations with recent stress (mediation effect). History of CEMTs including CEB, CEN, and CESA significantly increased the effects of recent stress on depression (moderation effect).

CONCLUSIONS: Chinese undergraduate students reported frequent history of exposure to CAs, which increased the likelihood of depression in early adulthood, not only directly but also through the increasing the likelihood (mediation effect) and impact (moderation effect) of recent stress on depression. These novel findings may help to extend our understanding of environmental determinants of depression, and to guide further research, clinical practice, and policy in this context.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1091-4269 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/da.23201 ID - ref1 ER -