More than one-third of adults report having experienced emotional abuse in childhood, which is one of the most common interpersonal traumas. Although survivors of interpersonal trauma are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress symptoms, few studies have specifically examined the links between childhood emotional abuse and symptoms of post-traumatic stress in adulthood. Recent studies highlight the role of mindfulness as a key variable in understanding how interpersonal traumas can be associated with long-term post-traumatic stress symptoms (Godbout, Dion, & Bigras, 2016). The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of mindfulness in the relationship between emotional abuse in childhood and post- traumatic stress symptoms. The sample consisted of 354 women from the community who responded to self -reported online questionnaires. The results of multiple regression analyses show that the relationship between emotional abuse in childhood and symptoms of post-traumatic stress is explained by a decrease in mindfulness capacities. Overall, the results highlight the role of mindfulness as a mechanism partially explaining the impacts of interpersonal traumas in childhood.
Women's experiences in relation to stillbirth and risk factors for long-term post-traumatic stress symptoms: a retrospective study