The Parallel Mediating Effects of Irrational Beliefs on the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Social Withdrawal in College Students

Objective: To investigate the parallel multiple mediating effects of irrational beliefs on the relationship between childhood trauma and social withdrawal in college students. Method: An online survey 211 students was conducted using Google Form. IBM SPSS version 25 was used for descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. PROCESS macro program (Model 4) was employed to determine the significance of the direct paths in the parallel multiple mediation model and to confirm the mediation effects using a bootstrapping procedure. Results: First, childhood trauma did not have a direct impact on social withdrawal but influenced it indirectly through the irrational beliefs of self-denigration and the need for comfort. Second, the need for achievement and the demand for justice did not play a significant mediating role between childhood trauma and social withdrawal. Third, when other irrational beliefs were controlled, the need for approval emerged as a suppressor variable, reducing social withdrawal. Conclusion: Childhood trauma does not directly cause social withdrawal. Instead, it indirectly influences it through irrational beliefs such as self-depreciation and a desire for comfort. Furthermore a suppressive effect of the need for approval was identified, which suggests a new direction for counseling. While the need for approval is typically seen as a negative trait, this finding indicates that in specific psychological contexts—wherein negative factors such as self-depreciation are reduced—it can act as a positive motivator that reduces social withdrawal.