Background <p>Childhood emotional maltreatment is a known risk factor for depression, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study explores the relationship between childhood emotional maltreatment and depression in university students, focusing on potential mediating and moderating factors.</p> Methods <p>A two-wave longitudinal design was employed, recruiting 689 Chinese university students (Mage = 19.72, SD = 0.96, 81.6% female). Data were collected six months apart. Childhood emotional maltreatment was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, depressive symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and negative attention bias and expressive suppression with the Attention to Negative Information Scale and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, respectively. Data were analyzed using a moderated mediation model, controlling for gender, age, negative life events, cyberbullying, and school bullying at Time 1.</p> Results <p>Emotional abuse and neglect were both positively associated with depression. Negative attention bias mediated the relationship between emotional abuse and depression but not neglect. Additionally, expressive suppression moderated the effect of emotional abuse on negative attention bias, with a significant effect in individuals with low levels of expressive suppression.</p> Conclusion <p>Emotional abuse and neglect are key risk factors for depression. Negative attention bias and expressive suppression play significant roles in the impact of emotional abuse on depression. Interventions targeting these factors may help alleviate depression in maltreated individuals<b>.</b></p>