Bautista A, Venta A. Attachment security and somatization: The mediating role of emotion dysregulation in a sample of Latinx young adults.
J Affect Disord 2024;
351:165-171. [PMID:
38296054 DOI:
10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.235]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Somatization has been linked to the underdiagnosis of mental health disorders among individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups, notably among Latinxs. While prior research has emphasized sociocultural factors, the exploration of potential inter- and intrapersonal mechanisms behind somatization remains limited.
METHODS
The current study examined the relation between attachment insecurity, emotion dysregulation, and somatization among Latinx young adults. Data were collected across seven separate Texas universities (N = 822). Most identified as female (76 %), were born in the United States (50.9 %) and were in their first or second year of university (60.6 %).
RESULTS
Hypothesis testing relied on two mediation models: maternal attachment security and paternal attachment security. The maternal attachment security model significantly predicted somatization, explaining 25 % of the variance. Notably, emotion dysregulation and maternal attachment security had main effects on somatization after accounting for country of origin, age, and gender. Results were similar for the paternal attachment security model.
LIMITATIONS
Limitations include skewed gender distribution, a non-clinical college student sample, cross-sectional design preventing causal inferences, and potential bias in self-report measures.
CONCLUSIONS
Attachment security and emotion dysregulation play an essential role in the experience of somatic symptoms among Latinx young adults. Our results suggest that health care providers take into account insecure attachment and emotion regulation history of Latinxs presenting with somatic symptoms.
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