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Structural Modeling of Adolescent High-Risk Behaviors Based on Childhood Trauma: The Mediating Role of Mindfulness and Difficulty in Emotion Regulation in Adolescents in Tabriz
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Elahe Khodadadi *   , Ali Asgharzadeh |
| University of Medical Sciences , Elahekhodadadi12@gmail.com |
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Abstract: (28 Views) |
Introduction: High-Risk Behaviors in adolescence are considered one of the most important public health challenges, and childhood trauma is one of the strongest predictors of these behaviors. However, the psychological mechanisms mediating this relationship are not fully understood. The present study aimed to structurally model adolescent risk behaviors based on childhood trauma by examining the mediating role of mindfulness and difficulty in emotion regulation.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional correlational study using structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all adolescents aged 12 to 18 in Tabriz in 2024, from whom 384 were selected using convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Adolescent Risky Behavior Checklist, the Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale, and the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the partial least squares (PLS-SEM) method in SmartPLS software.
Results: The results showed that childhood trauma has a positive and significant direct effect on risky behaviors (β=0.316, P<0.01). Also, mindfulness played a negative and significant mediating role (β=-0.178, P<0.01), and difficulty in emotion regulation played a positive and significant mediating role (β=0.131, P<0.01), in the relationship between childhood trauma and risky behaviors. The final model was able to explain 63.4% of the variance in risky behaviors (R²=0.634). The model fit indices including (SRMR=0.051) and (NFI=0.947) indicated the optimal fit of the model. Also, the predictive power of the model (Q²=0.445) indicated the high predictive power of the model.
Conclusion: The findings show that childhood trauma has a direct and positive significant relationship with risky behaviors in adolescents. The results also indicate that childhood trauma is correlated with risky behaviors through the mediating role of mindfulness (negative relationship) and difficulty in emotion regulation (positive relationship). Based on these findings, designing preventive and therapeutic interventions aimed at strengthening mindfulness and emotion regulation skills in adolescents with a history of childhood trauma can play an effective role in reducing risky behaviors and promoting their mental health.
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| Keywords: Childhood trauma, risky behaviors, mindfulness, difficulty in emotion regulation, adolescents |
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/07/22 | Accepted: 2026/09/1 | Published: 2026/09/1 | ePublished: 2026/09/1
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