The Relationship Between Childhood Traumatic Experiences and Rumination with Suicidal Thoughts
Keywords:
Childhood trauma, rumination, suicidal ideation, cognitive vulnerabilityAbstract
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and rumination with suicidal thoughts among university students. The present research employed a descriptive-correlational and explanatory design using structural equation modeling (SEM) within a cross-sectional framework. The statistical population included all students at Islamic Azad University of Lahijan (N = 9031), from which 210 participants were selected through purposive convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation, and the Ruminative Responses Scale by Nolen-Hoeksema and Morrow (1991). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data. The results indicated that both childhood traumatic experiences and rumination were significantly correlated with suicidal thoughts. Pearson’s correlation coefficients revealed strong positive relationships between childhood trauma and suicidal ideation (r = 0.90, p < .001), and between rumination and suicidal ideation (r = 0.95, p < .001). Regression analysis further confirmed the predictive role of these variables, with childhood trauma (B = 0.54, p < .001) and rumination (B = 0.22, p < .001) both emerging as significant predictors of suicidal thoughts. These results highlight the direct and independent contributions of both trauma and ruminative thinking to the development of suicidal ideation. The findings suggest that students with a history of childhood trauma and a tendency toward ruminative thinking are at a significantly higher risk for suicidal ideation. Addressing these factors through early screening, trauma-informed interventions, and cognitive-behavioral strategies targeting rumination may be critical for effective suicide prevention among university populations.
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