Childhood Trauma and Substance Use Tendencies: The Mediating Effects of PTSD, Impulsivity, and Emotion Dysregulation

Objective: Although the relationship between childhood trauma and the presence of substance use tendencies (SUT) has been proven worldwide, little Iranian-based evidence exists. Nonetheless, this study is the first to empirically test such a correlation in a sample population of Iranian university students with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and impulsivity serving as mediators of this relationship. Methods: A group of 766 Iranian university students (33.4% male and 66.6 % female; mean age=24.89) was asked to complete the validated questionnaires, which featured the childhood trauma questionnaire-short form (CTQ-SF), difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS), addiction potential scale (APS), short UPPS-P impulsive behavior scale (SUPPS-P), and posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Analyses were performed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: Childhood trauma was strongly related to greater impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, PTSD symptoms, and SUT. These psychological factors significantly mediate childhood trauma in SUT. Conclusion: These results underscore the necessity of developing specific interventions that would focus on impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and PTSD symptoms, to decrease the risk of SUT among Iranian university students with a history of childhood trauma.