Aim: The present study aims to describe the nature, structure, and semantic dimensions of the lived experience of long-term mental preoccupation in adults aged 25 to 45 with a history of childhood trauma, from the perspective of their own awareness and perception, in order to gain a deeper understanding of how this mental preoccupation manifests in everyday life, identity, and interpersonal relationships.



Method: This research employs a qualitative approach and descriptive phenomenology (Colaizzi's seven-step method). The study population consists of adults aged 25 to 45 with a history of childhood trauma and ongoing mental preoccupation. Purposive sampling with maximum variation strategy was employed, and data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews until theoretical saturation was achieved. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) was used for initial screening. Data analysis will be conducted using Colaizzi's method with MAXQDA software, and the trustworthiness of findings will be ensured through Lincoln and Guba's criteria.



Expected Findings: It is anticipated that this research will lead to the discovery and description of cognitive, emotional, bodily, temporal, interpersonal, and identity components of long-term mental preoccupation and the extraction of its essential structure within the Iranian cultural context.



Conclusion: The findings of this research can contribute to the enrichment of existing literature on the cognitive-emotional consequences of childhood trauma and provide a foundation for designing therapeutic interventions grounded in lived experience, early detection, and preventive programs within the country's mental health system.