The impact of psychopathology associated with childhood trauma on quality of life in portuguese adolescents: a two-wave longitudinal study

• Main Author: Pinto, Ricardo José Martins
• Publication Date: 2021
• Other Authors: Castro, Maria Vieira de, Silva, Laura, Jongenelen, Inês Martins, Maia, Ângela Rosa da Costa, Levendosky, Alytia
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Download full: http://hdl.handle.net/10437/12412
• topic: PSICOLOGIA; ADOLESCENTES; QUALIDADE DE VIDA; PSICOPATOLOGIA; TRAUMAS; SUPORTE SOCIAL; PSYCHOLOGY; ADOLESCENTS; QUALITY OF LIFE; PSYCHOPATHOLOGY; TRAUMAS; SOCIAL SUPPORT

Introduction: The aim of this study was to explore the mediating effect of psychopathology between childhood adversity and trauma and quality of life (QOL) in adolescents. The second aim of the study was testing the moderation by social support of this mediation effect. Methods: Self-reports of childhood adversity and trauma, QOL, social support, and psychopathology were collected from 150 Portuguese adolescents' who had been exposed to at least one traumatic event or one childhood adversity (Mage = 16.89, SD = 1.32). The surveys were administered at two time points with an approximate time interval of 1 year. Results: Indirect effects were observed for depression (B = −0.33, CI [−0.62, −0.11]), somatization (B = −0.52, CI [−0.82, −0.23]), and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) (B = −0.23, CI [−0.45, −0.01]), but not for anxiety (B = 0.20, CI [−0.08, 0.50]). A moderated mediation was found between social support and depression (B = −0.10, CI [−16, −0.04]), and PTSS (B = 0.03, CI [−0.1, −0.05]), but not for somatization (B = −0.02, CI [−0.8, 0.05]). Conclusions: We found that depression and somatization were strong mediators of the relationship between adversity/trauma and QOL, whereas PTSS was moderately mediated this relationship. Anxiety did not mediate this relationship. The moderated-mediation effect of social support was only found for depression and PTSS. The improvement of QOL in adolescents exposed to childhood adversity and trauma should include the assessment of psychopathology symptoms and social support, with the aim of identifying risk and protective factors.