Emotion Regulation Difficulties mediate the Relationship between Childhood Maltreatment and Perceived Stress in Adulthood

Childhood exposure to traumatic events can have enduring negative effects, particularly on stress levels and overall well-being. However, individuals may respond and adapt differently to such experiences. One of the factors that may explain these differences is emotion dysregulation, which refers to difficulties in managing emotional responses and is often linked to interpersonal trauma. This study investigated whether difficulties in emotion regulation mediate the relationship between various early traumatic experiences and stress in adulthood. A sample of 351 university students completed self-report assessments of childhood maltreatment (CTQ), emotion regulation difficulties (DERS), and perceived stress (PSS-10). Structural equation model (SEM) analyses showed that difficulties in specific emotion regulation strategies mediated the effects of emotional traumatic experiences, both abuse and neglect, on perceived helplessness and self-efficacy in adulthood. These findings underscore the lasting impact of emotional trauma and highlight emotion regulation as a key target for interventions aimed at reducing stress in adulthood.