Effect of Childhood Trauma on Emotional Distress: A Chain‐Mediated Effects of Alexithymia and Psychological Flexibility

Objective The study aims to explore how emotional distress is affected by childhood trauma through pathways involving alexithymia and psychological flexibility, and to construct a complete model established on this foundation, which will be provided as a theoretical theory for interventions in college students' mental health. Methods Note that 1002 college students were assessed using Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS‐21), the 20‐item Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS‐20), and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire‐2nd Edition (AAQ‐II). After removing some non‐compliant questionnaires, the remaining 885 were used for data analysis. Results Scores on childhood trauma, alexithymia, and psychological flexibility exhibited notable correlation with depression, anxiety, and stress; childhood trauma had chain mediation effects on depression, anxiety, and stress through alexithymia and psychological flexibility. Conclusion Among college students, childhood trauma is positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress, and impacts the relationship between them through the single mediation and chain mediation of alexithymia and psychological flexibility.