Maternal depression and adolescent suicidal ideation: the mediating roles of childhood trauma and ineffectiveness

Abstract Background Maternal depression is an important risk factor for adolescent depression and suicidal ideation through the poor family environment and negative self-cognition. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of childhood trauma between maternal depression and adolescent depression and the chain mediating role of childhood trauma and ineffectiveness between maternal depression and adolescent suicidal ideation. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 6216 mothers and 7375 adolescents from middle schools (Grades 6 to 12) in Shanghai and Henan Province, China, through an online platform by the school psychologists, resulting in 4,157 pairs of matching samples. Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) were used to assess maternal depression and childhood trauma of adolescents. The Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) was administered to assess adolescent depression, ineffectiveness, and suicidal ideation. Results. The prevalence of clinical depression in mothers is 17.68%, and in adolescents is 15.49% (n = 4157). 28.20% of adolescents have suicidal ideation. Maternal depression(r= 0.17, p＜0.01), childhood trauma(r = 0.18, p＜0.01), and ineffectiveness(r = 0.14, p＜0.01) were significantly and positively correlated with adolescent depression. Gender (β = 0.13, p < 0.01), maternal depression (β = 0.03, p = 0.01), childhood trauma (β= 0.22, p < 0.01) and ineffectiveness (β = 0.32, p < 0.01) were positive predictors of adolescent suicidal ideation. The mediating effects of childhood trauma between maternal depression and adolescent depression (95%CI = [0.047, 0.007]) is significant. The chain mediating effect of childhood trauma and ineffectiveness between maternal depression and adolescent suicidal ideation is also significant (95%CI = [0.000, 0.001]). Conclusion Depression from mother to adolescent can be mediated by the childhood trauma of adolescents. Higher maternal depression increases the possibility of child abuse, which can cause adolescents to feel ineffectual and increase their risk of developing suicidal ideation. These findings are important for sociological intervention in adolescent depression.