Childhood trauma and depressive symptoms in college students: the mediating role of fear of happiness.

backgroundChildhood trauma represents a significant risk factor for the development of depressive symptoms among college students; however, the underlying psychological mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. This study investigated the mediating role of fear of happiness in the association between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms, with a specific focus on delineating the distinct pathways linked to various trauma subtypes.

methodsA cross-sectional survey was administered to a sample of 1,085 college students using validated self-report instruments: the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Fear of Happiness Scale (FHS), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Mediation analysis was conducted using the SPSS PROCESS macro (Model 4), and structural equation modeling was applied to evaluate the distinct pathways linking individual trauma subtypes to depressive symptoms via fear of happiness.

resultsSignificant positive correlations were found among childhood trauma, fear of happiness, and depressive symptoms. Fear of happiness partially mediated the association between overall childhood trauma and depressive symptoms, accounting for 36.43% of the total effect. Subtype-specific analyses revealed that emotional abuse and physical neglect indirectly influenced depressive symptoms by increasing fear of happiness. In contrast, emotional neglect had a unique negative direct effect on depressive symptoms, suggesting potential emotional blunting or regulatory dysfunction.

conclusionsThese findings indicate that fear of happiness functions as a key psychological mechanism connecting childhood trauma to depressive symptomatology in college students. The divergent patterns across trauma subtypes highlight the importance of differentiating trauma experiences in both theoretical models and clinical interventions. Specifically, emotional neglect may be linked to adaptive emotional suppression processes, such as numbing, which could have implications for treatment planning. These results support the development of cognitive-behavioral interventions targeting fear of happiness as a promising strategy for preventing and reducing depressive symptoms in individuals with a history of adversity in early life. Given the cross-sectional design, causal conclusions cannot be definitively drawn, and future longitudinal or prospective studies are warranted to establish temporal and causal relationships between these variables.