The Mediating Role of Social Interest in the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Mental Health in Afghan Adolescents

This study examined the relationship between childhood trauma and mental health among Afghan adolescents, with social interest evaluated as a mediating variable. A total of 183 secondary and high school students in Kabul (academic year 2023–2024) were selected through convenience sampling and completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (Bernstein et al., 2003), the General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg & Hillier, 1979), and the Social Interest Scale (Alizadeh et al., 2021). Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized mediation model. The results indicated that the proposed mediation model provided a good fit to the data. In the partial mediation model, all path coefficients between latent variables were statistically significant (p < .05). Childhood trauma dimensions showed significant negative correlations with social interest dimensions and significant positive correlations with multiple aspects of mental health problems. Moreover, social interest dimensions were significantly and negatively correlated with mental health outcomes. These findings suggest that childhood trauma exerts substantial negative effects on mental health, and these effects are further intensified by lower levels of social interest. The study highlights the importance of social interest as a mediating factor in explaining the complex link between early adverse experiences and mental health. Such findings may inform the development of evidence-based intervention programs that aim to reduce the harmful impact of childhood trauma and enhance psychological well-being through the promotion of social interest.