Emotional Abuse and Neglect, Depression: A Moderated Mediation Model of Neuroticism and Psychological Resilience

Hu, Yueyang; Fei, Junsong; Yue, Jingyi; Gao, Ren; Song, Qianqian; Zhao, Xixi; Mei, Songli

doi:2025.22.4.389

Psychiatry Investig > Volume 22(4); 2025 > Article

Original Article

Psychiatry Investigation 2025;22(4):389-396.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2024.0108 Published online April 11, 2025.

Emotional Abuse and Neglect, Depression: A Moderated Mediation Model of Neuroticism and Psychological Resilience

Yueyang Hu¹

, Junsong Fei²

, Jingyi Yue²

, Ren Gao²

, Qianqian Song²

, Xixi Zhao²

, Songli Mei²

¹Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Baotou Medical College, Baotou, China
²Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health of Jilin University, Changchun, China

Correspondence: Songli Mei ,Tel: +86-431-85619454, Email: meisongli@sina.com

Received: March 27, 2024 Revised: June 20, 2024 Accepted: January 24, 2025 Published online: April 11, 2025

Abstract

Objective
There were associations between emotional abuse and neglect (EAN) and depression, but few studies had tested potential mechanisms underlying these relationships. We aimed to provide insights on how (the mediation role of neuroticism), and under what conditions (the moderator role of psychological resilience), led to a higher level of depression.
Methods
This study was a cross-sectional study that used a random cluster sampling method. We randomly selected 3,993 participants from four junior middle schools in northern city of China. Participants were asked to complete four self-reported questionnaires, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Children Depression Inventory-Short Form, Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Version, and Chinese Resilience Scale.
Results
The results showed that neuroticism mediated the associations between EAN and depression. In addition, the mediating effect of neuroticism was moderated by psychological resilience (p<0.05).
Conclusion
EAN and neuroticism could have an adverse impact on depression, and psychological resilience could alleviate these negative effects as a moderator. Our model suggested psychological resilience could be a particularly effective intervention point for victims of EAN.

Key words Emotional abuse and neglect; Depression; Neuroticism; Psychological resilience; A moderated mediation model