Work

Associations of childhood trauma and insecure attachment with internalized shame among university students: the role of negative perception of stress

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background Internalized shame refers to a persistent form of self-directed shame in which negative evaluations of the self-become incorporated into one's sense of identity rather than remaining focused on a specific behavior. Negative Perception of Stress refers to the extent to which individuals appraise environmental demands as exceeding their available coping resources. Childhood trauma and insecure attachment have been identified as important factors associated with internalized shame, while Negative Perception of Stress may help explain these associations. This study examined the mediating role of Negative Perception of Stress in the associations between childhood trauma, insecure attachment, and internalized shame among university students. Methods A cross-sectional correlational design was employed using structural equation modeling. A total of 450 university students completed standardized measures of childhood trauma, insecure attachment, Negative Perception of Stress, and internalized shame. Results Childhood trauma (β = .25, p < .001) and insecure attachment (β = .27, p < .001) were positively associated with internalized shame. Both variables were also significantly associated with Negative Perception of Stress, which, in turn, was positively related to internalized shame (β = .41, p < .001). Bootstrap analysis indicated significant indirect associations between childhood trauma and internalized shame, as well as between insecure attachment and internalized shame, through Negative Perception of Stress ( p < .001). Conclusions The findings highlight Negative Perception of Stress as an important statistical pathway linking adverse childhood experiences and insecure attachment with internalized shame. Interventions targeting stress-related distress, trauma-related experiences, and attachment insecurity may help reduce internalized shame among university students.

Source: Journal of Affective Disorders Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2026.101206

Authors: Esfandiar Azad Marzabadi, Mohamad HatamiNejad, Masoud Sadeghi, Zahra Naghsh

Institutions: Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Lorestan University, University of Tehran

Language: English

Topic: Emotions and Moral Behavior

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,630