The lagged associations between childhood abuse, emotional and behavioral problems and its mechanisms: A three-wave longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to further test the lagged associations between childhood abuse, emotional (depression and loneliness) and behavioral problems (smartphone addiction and online trolling) based on the dual-systems model of self-control.

METHOD: A total of 1005 junior middle school students (Mage = 13.41; SD = 0.49) participated in the study. Childhood abuse, psychological capital, self-control, emotional problems, and behavioral problems were assessed at three time points (T1, T2, and T3) separated by one year. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the associations among the studied variables.

RESULTS

The results indicated that (i) T1 childhood abuse positively predicted T3 emotional and behavioral problems; (ii) T1 childhood abuse positively predicted T3 emotional and behavioral problems through T2 psychological capital; (iii) T1 childhood abuse positively predicted T3 emotional and behavioral problems through T2 self-control; and (iv) T1 childhood abuse positively predicted T3 emotional and behavioral problems through the chain-mediating pathway from T2 psychological capital to T2 self-control.

CONCLUSIONS

These results supported the dual-systems model of self-control and provided implications for interventions targeting adolescents' emotional and behavioral problems.