Childhood Abuse, Rumination, Social Anxiety, and Mindfulness among College Students: Basis for Psychological Intervention Program Development

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between childhood abuse, rumination, social anxiety and mindfulness in 1145 Chinese college students, using the Childhood Abuse Scale (CTQ-SF), Rumination Reaction Scale (RRS), Interaction Anxiousness Scale (IAS) and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Findings showed that childhood abuse significantly positively predicted social anxiety, with rumination playing a fully mediating role. Mindfulness demonstrated a significant moderating effect in both the first and second halves of the mediational model. The findings emphasized the importance of mental health education activities aimed at reducing rumination and enhancing mindfulness, which could potentially help college students better cope with the psychological impact of childhood abuse, lower their social anxiety levels, and promote their mental health development.