Associations between childhood maltreatment and personality traits in individuals with and without depression: a CTQ-based assessment
Abstract Background Prior research has established a correlation between childhood maltreatment (CM) and personality traits. The current understanding regarding the potential variability in the relationship between CM and its impact on personality dimensions among those with major depressive disorde...
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2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02431-7 |
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| author | Yilin Peng Shazia Rehman Jin Liu Yumeng Ju Mi Wang Jinrong Sun Xiaowen Lu Qiangli Dong Liang Zhang Mei Liao Ping Wan Hua Guo Futao Zhao Bangshan Liu Yan Zhang Lingjiang Li |
| author_facet | Yilin Peng Shazia Rehman Jin Liu Yumeng Ju Mi Wang Jinrong Sun Xiaowen Lu Qiangli Dong Liang Zhang Mei Liao Ping Wan Hua Guo Futao Zhao Bangshan Liu Yan Zhang Lingjiang Li |
| author_sort | Yilin Peng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Prior research has established a correlation between childhood maltreatment (CM) and personality traits. The current understanding regarding the potential variability in the relationship between CM and its impact on personality dimensions among those with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls (HCs) remains elusive. Aims This study analyzes the association between CM and personality traits in the MDD and HC groups. Methods The study recruited 188 individuals with MDD and 132 HC. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) was used to assess CM, and the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) was used to assess personality traits. We used a 2*2 analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) of the diagnosis and CM on 16PF, and hierarchical regression explored the association between specific types of CM and 16PF in both groups. Results The 2*2 ANCOVA results indicated significant interaction effects between CM and diagnosis on personality traits, with CM’s impact notably different between groups. In the MDD group, sexual abuse (SA) independently predicted the subscale Q1 (Openness to Change), related to the Big Five’s openness. In the HC group, emotional abuse (EA) predicted the subscales C (emotional stability), O (apprehension), and Q4(tension), linked to Big Five’s neuroticism. Conclusion The findings highlight the impact of early adversity on personality development, informing psychology and guiding tailored therapy development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bb21cb4790ed4e879fb4a4076e58c6c6 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bb21cb4790ed4e879fb4a4076e58c6c62025-08-20T02:48:33ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-02-0113111210.1186/s40359-025-02431-7Associations between childhood maltreatment and personality traits in individuals with and without depression: a CTQ-based assessmentYilin Peng0Shazia Rehman1Jin Liu2Yumeng Ju3Mi Wang4Jinrong Sun5Xiaowen Lu6Qiangli Dong7Liang Zhang8Mei Liao9Ping Wan10Hua Guo11Futao Zhao12Bangshan Liu13Yan Zhang14Lingjiang Li15Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Zhumadian Psychiatric HospitalDepartment of Psychiatry, Zhumadian Psychiatric HospitalDepartment of Psychiatry, Zhumadian Psychiatric HospitalDepartment of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityAbstract Background Prior research has established a correlation between childhood maltreatment (CM) and personality traits. The current understanding regarding the potential variability in the relationship between CM and its impact on personality dimensions among those with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls (HCs) remains elusive. Aims This study analyzes the association between CM and personality traits in the MDD and HC groups. Methods The study recruited 188 individuals with MDD and 132 HC. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) was used to assess CM, and the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) was used to assess personality traits. We used a 2*2 analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) of the diagnosis and CM on 16PF, and hierarchical regression explored the association between specific types of CM and 16PF in both groups. Results The 2*2 ANCOVA results indicated significant interaction effects between CM and diagnosis on personality traits, with CM’s impact notably different between groups. In the MDD group, sexual abuse (SA) independently predicted the subscale Q1 (Openness to Change), related to the Big Five’s openness. In the HC group, emotional abuse (EA) predicted the subscales C (emotional stability), O (apprehension), and Q4(tension), linked to Big Five’s neuroticism. Conclusion The findings highlight the impact of early adversity on personality development, informing psychology and guiding tailored therapy development.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02431-7Childhood maltreatmentPersonality traitsMajor depressive disorderEmotional abuseSexual abuse |
| spellingShingle | Yilin Peng Shazia Rehman Jin Liu Yumeng Ju Mi Wang Jinrong Sun Xiaowen Lu Qiangli Dong Liang Zhang Mei Liao Ping Wan Hua Guo Futao Zhao Bangshan Liu Yan Zhang Lingjiang Li Associations between childhood maltreatment and personality traits in individuals with and without depression: a CTQ-based assessment BMC Psychology Childhood maltreatment Personality traits Major depressive disorder Emotional abuse Sexual abuse |
| title | Associations between childhood maltreatment and personality traits in individuals with and without depression: a CTQ-based assessment |
| title_full | Associations between childhood maltreatment and personality traits in individuals with and without depression: a CTQ-based assessment |
| title_fullStr | Associations between childhood maltreatment and personality traits in individuals with and without depression: a CTQ-based assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations between childhood maltreatment and personality traits in individuals with and without depression: a CTQ-based assessment |
| title_short | Associations between childhood maltreatment and personality traits in individuals with and without depression: a CTQ-based assessment |
| title_sort | associations between childhood maltreatment and personality traits in individuals with and without depression a ctq based assessment |
| topic | Childhood maltreatment Personality traits Major depressive disorder Emotional abuse Sexual abuse |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02431-7 |
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