The Impact of Childhood Maltreatment Experiences on Emotion Regulation in Chinese Methamphetamine-Dependent...

Childhood maltreatment increases the risk of drug dependency by affecting emotion regulation. However, the relationship between childhood maltreatment, emotion regulation, rumination and impulsive behaviour remains unclear. This study examined the mediating role of rumination and impulsivity in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and emotion regulation among methamphetamine-dependent inpatients (MDIs). A total of 592 male MDIs were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Participants provided sociodemographic information and completed assessments using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), Nolen-Hoeksema Ruminative Responses Scale (NH-RRS), SUPPS-P Impulsivity Behaviour Scale (SUPPS-P) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DER). Of the 592 inpatients, 56.4% reported experiencing childhood maltreatment. Compared to nonmaltreated patients, those who experienced childhood maltreatment were more likely to be unmarried, have hypertension, exhibit greater self-motivation for detoxification, and report higher levels of suicidal ideation. They also demonstrated poorer emotion regulation. Additionally, rumination mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and impaired emotion regulation. Our findings suggest a significant association between childhood maltreatment and impaired emotion regulation in MDIs, with rumination serving as a key mediator of this relationship.