Distinct Psychological Pathways from Childhood Adversity to Addictive Outcomes in College Students: Parallel Mediating Roles of Internalizing Distress and Externalizing Dysregulation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66581/xcr39x12Keywords:
childhood adversity, internalizing distress, externalizing dysregulation, internet-related addiction, nicotine dependence, college studentsAbstract
This study examined the psychological pathways linking childhood adversity to different addictive outcomes among college students, with a focus on the parallel mediating roles of internalizing distress and externalizing dysregulation. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,198 college students with smoking behavior from universities in Guizhou Province, China. Childhood adversity was assessed through childhood trauma, parental rejection, and parental overprotection; internalizing distress was indicated by depression, anxiety, and stress; externalizing dysregulation was indicated by aggression and poor self-control. Structural equation modeling was used to test two parallel mediation models for internet-related addiction and nicotine dependence. The results showed that childhood adversity significantly and positively predicted both internalizing distress and externalizing dysregulation, whereas its direct effects on internet-related addiction and nicotine dependence were not significant. For nicotine dependence, the pathway through internalizing distress was relatively stronger, and remained significant after controlling for internet-related addiction. For internet-related addiction, externalizing dysregulation was the dominant mediating pathway, while internalizing distress showed a significant negative suppression effect. These findings suggest that although behavioral and substance-related addictive outcomes share childhood adversity as a common distal risk factor, they may be driven by distinct proximal psychological mechanisms. Prevention and intervention programs for college students should therefore emphasize emotion regulation for nicotine dependence and behavioral control for internet-related addiction.
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