Childhood Maltreatment and the Mediating Effects of Rumination on Trait Mindfulness and Executive Functions in College Students

Abstract

Childhood maltreatment has been associated with a myriad of challenges in later life, including difficulties related to cognitive processing, emotional regulation, social-behavioral functioning, and academic achievement (Becker-Blease & Kerig, 2016). The current study investigated how childhood maltreatment affects college students by examining the interrelationship of several important variables known to be associated with maltreatment: trait mindfulness, executive functioning, and rumination. Findings suggest that ruminative thoughts may have a mediating effect on the relationship between childhood maltreatment and trait mindfulness. Findings also suggest that ruminative thoughts may have a mediating effect on the relationship between childhood maltreatment and executive functions. These findings may be useful for colleges and universities in considerations for providing a tiered system of support for students with maltreatment histories who experience ruminative thoughts. Addressing ruminative thoughts may help improve important life functions of those students