Exploring the relationship between childhood maltreatment and cognitive bias in Chinese adults with major depressive disorder

Abstract This study aims to explore how different forms and cumulative experiences of childhood maltreatment (CM) relate to cognitive biases. A total of 121 participants diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 120 healthy controls (HC) were recruited for this cross-sectional study. CM and...

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Main Authors: Jintao Xiong, Mengqi Xu, Shazia Rehman, Jin Liu, Yumeng Ju, Mi Wang, Jinrong Sun, Xiaowen Lu, Qiangli Dong, Liang Zhang, Ping Wan, Hua Guo, Futao Zhao, Mei Liao, Bangshan Liu, Yan Zhang, Lingjiang Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-03-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04732-z
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author Jintao Xiong
Mengqi Xu
Shazia Rehman
Jin Liu
Yumeng Ju
Mi Wang
Jinrong Sun
Xiaowen Lu
Qiangli Dong
Liang Zhang
Ping Wan
Hua Guo
Futao Zhao
Mei Liao
Bangshan Liu
Yan Zhang
Lingjiang Li
author_facet Jintao Xiong
Mengqi Xu
Shazia Rehman
Jin Liu
Yumeng Ju
Mi Wang
Jinrong Sun
Xiaowen Lu
Qiangli Dong
Liang Zhang
Ping Wan
Hua Guo
Futao Zhao
Mei Liao
Bangshan Liu
Yan Zhang
Lingjiang Li
author_sort Jintao Xiong
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study aims to explore how different forms and cumulative experiences of childhood maltreatment (CM) relate to cognitive biases. A total of 121 participants diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 120 healthy controls (HC) were recruited for this cross-sectional study. CM and cognitive biases were assessed, respectively, utilizing the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and the Cognitive Bias Questionnaire. The latter evaluates two distinct dimensions of cognitive biases: depression and distortion, according to which cognitive characteristics were categorized into four combinations: depressed-distorted (D-D), depressed-nondistorted (D-ND), nondepressed-distorted (ND-D), and nondepressed-nondistorted (ND-ND). The Childhood Maltreatment Count (CMC) was defined as the cumulative count of distinct CM types. The findings indicate the association between CM and cognitive bias among the participants. In the MDD cohort, a significant association was observed between higher physical neglect scores and diminished ND-ND scores (β = –0.297, p = 0.012). In the HC group, no comparable relationship was identified. Furthermore, CMC was significantly correlated with decreased ND-ND scores both in the MDD group (β = −0.273, p = 0.006) and the HC group (β = −0.234, p = 0.010). This study underscores the significance of investigating the repercussions of physical neglect in MDD patients. Moreover, increased childhood trauma counts may function as a predisposing factor for more pronounced cognitive bias, with potential implications for clinical interventions and future research in diverse cultural contexts.
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spelling doaj-art-cf71247e9d1c443dae3d4472d2c0dc812025-08-20T03:40:44ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-03-011211910.1057/s41599-025-04732-zExploring the relationship between childhood maltreatment and cognitive bias in Chinese adults with major depressive disorderJintao Xiong0Mengqi Xu1Shazia Rehman2Jin Liu3Yumeng Ju4Mi Wang5Jinrong Sun6Xiaowen Lu7Qiangli Dong8Liang Zhang9Ping Wan10Hua Guo11Futao Zhao12Mei Liao13Bangshan Liu14Yan Zhang15Lingjiang Li16National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityNational Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityNational Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityNational Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityNational Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityNational Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityNational Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityNational Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityNational Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityNational Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityZhumadian Psychiatric HospitalZhumadian Psychiatric HospitalZhumadian Psychiatric HospitalNational Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityNational Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityNational Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityNational Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South UniversityAbstract This study aims to explore how different forms and cumulative experiences of childhood maltreatment (CM) relate to cognitive biases. A total of 121 participants diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 120 healthy controls (HC) were recruited for this cross-sectional study. CM and cognitive biases were assessed, respectively, utilizing the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and the Cognitive Bias Questionnaire. The latter evaluates two distinct dimensions of cognitive biases: depression and distortion, according to which cognitive characteristics were categorized into four combinations: depressed-distorted (D-D), depressed-nondistorted (D-ND), nondepressed-distorted (ND-D), and nondepressed-nondistorted (ND-ND). The Childhood Maltreatment Count (CMC) was defined as the cumulative count of distinct CM types. The findings indicate the association between CM and cognitive bias among the participants. In the MDD cohort, a significant association was observed between higher physical neglect scores and diminished ND-ND scores (β = –0.297, p = 0.012). In the HC group, no comparable relationship was identified. Furthermore, CMC was significantly correlated with decreased ND-ND scores both in the MDD group (β = −0.273, p = 0.006) and the HC group (β = −0.234, p = 0.010). This study underscores the significance of investigating the repercussions of physical neglect in MDD patients. Moreover, increased childhood trauma counts may function as a predisposing factor for more pronounced cognitive bias, with potential implications for clinical interventions and future research in diverse cultural contexts.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04732-z
spellingShingle Jintao Xiong
Mengqi Xu
Shazia Rehman
Jin Liu
Yumeng Ju
Mi Wang
Jinrong Sun
Xiaowen Lu
Qiangli Dong
Liang Zhang
Ping Wan
Hua Guo
Futao Zhao
Mei Liao
Bangshan Liu
Yan Zhang
Lingjiang Li
Exploring the relationship between childhood maltreatment and cognitive bias in Chinese adults with major depressive disorder
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Exploring the relationship between childhood maltreatment and cognitive bias in Chinese adults with major depressive disorder
title_full Exploring the relationship between childhood maltreatment and cognitive bias in Chinese adults with major depressive disorder
title_fullStr Exploring the relationship between childhood maltreatment and cognitive bias in Chinese adults with major depressive disorder
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the relationship between childhood maltreatment and cognitive bias in Chinese adults with major depressive disorder
title_short Exploring the relationship between childhood maltreatment and cognitive bias in Chinese adults with major depressive disorder
title_sort exploring the relationship between childhood maltreatment and cognitive bias in chinese adults with major depressive disorder
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04732-z
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