Predicting Mood States Based on Childhood Trauma: The Mediating Role of Cognitive Motivation in Adolescents in Ahvaz

Abstract

This study aimed to predict adolescents’ mood states based on childhood trauma through the mediating role of cognitive motivation. This descriptive-correlational study employed structural equation modeling. The population consisted of adolescents aged 13–18 years in Ahvaz during the 2024–2025 academic year, from whom 321 participants were selected using multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Profile of Mood States (POMS), and the Cognitive Motivation Scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and AMOS version 24. The results indicated that the proposed model demonstrated a good fit to the data. Childhood trauma exerted a significant indirect effect on adolescents’ mood states through cognitive motivation. Both components of cognitive motivation—cognitive approach (inclination toward cognitive effort) and cognitive withdrawal—served as significant mediators in the relationship between childhood trauma and mood states, explaining a meaningful proportion of variance. The findings highlight cognitive motivation as a central psychological mechanism linking childhood trauma to adolescents’ mood states, suggesting that interventions targeting cognitive motivation may play an important role in improving emotional well-being among trauma-exposed adolescents.