The impact of past trauma on psychological distress among Chinese students: The roles of cognitive distortion and alexithymia

Tawakkul Mediates Between Personality Traits, Depression, and Anxiety in Pakistani Muslim Adults

Tawakkul in Islam is defined as the belief in the sufficiency of Allah (God) that invokes patience and efforts to achieve goals while accepting the outcomes unconditionally. The present research intended to investigate the mediating role of tawakkul between personality traits and mental health (anxiety and depression) in a purposive sample of (N = 350) Muslim adults. Urdu versions of three instruments, namely the Tawakkul Scale (Gondal, et al., 2021), Depression, Anxiety Stress Scale of (DASS 21; Aslam, 2018), and Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI; Chishti & Kamal, 2002), were used to measure the variables. Path analysis revealed that extraversion had no association with tawakkul and anxiety, but it was inversely related to depression. Neuroticism was inversely related to tawakkul and positively related to both depression and anxiety, and these relationships were partially mediated by a low degree of tawakkul. Implications of the study and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Posttraumatic Growth, Maladaptive Cognitive Schemas and Psychological Distress in Individuals Involved in Road Traffic Accidents-A Conservation of Resources Theory Perspective

Road traffic accidents can have profound psychological impacts on the individuals involved, encompassing both negative distress and positive growth. This study, guided by the conservation of resources (COR) theory, investigates the intricate relationship between posttraumatic growth (PTG), maladaptive cognitive schemas, and psychological distress in individuals involved in road traffic accidents. PTG reflects an individual's ability to derive positive changes from adversity, while maladaptive schemas represent negative cognitive patterns. Using a 122 sample of individuals involved in road traffic accidents, we examined direct and indirect effects within this complex network. Our findings reveal significant direct effects of PTG on psychological distress (β = 0.101, p = 0.02). Particularly noteworthy are the indirect effects mediated by cognitive schemas, emphasizing the role of impaired autonomy and perceived performance deficiencies (β = 0.102, p = 0.05). This suggests that individuals involved in road traffic accidents experiencing higher PTG levels may indirectly experience greater psychological distress through these maladaptive cognitive schemas. This study not only advances our understanding of the psychological consequences of road traffic accidents but also aligns with self-determination theory, emphasizing autonomy and competence as fundamental needs. Individuals involved in road traffic accidents may undergo profound shifts in perspective following the trauma, which our results support. Recognizing the nuanced relationship between PTG, maladaptive cognitive schemas, and psychological distress is crucial for tailoring interventions and support systems for individuals involved in traffic accidents. As PTG can coexist with distress, interventions should foster adaptive growth while addressing maladaptive schemas to promote resilience in the face of traumatic events.

The Role of Gender in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder: Differences Related to Hopelessness, Alexithymia, Coping Strategies, and Sensory Profile

Background and Objectives: Gender differences are poorly investigated in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), although they could be useful in determining the most appropriate pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment. The aim of the present study was to compare sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and the emotional and behavioral dimensions (such as coping, alexithymia, and sensory profile) between males and females with BPD. Material and Methods: Two hundred seven participants were recruited. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. The Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) were administered. Results: Male patients with BPD showed more involuntary hospitalizations and greater use of alcohol and illicit substances compared to females. Conversely, females with BPD reported more frequent medication abuse than males. Furthermore, females had high levels of alexithymia and hopelessness. Regarding coping strategies, females with BPD reported higher levels of "restraint coping" and "use of instrumental social support" at COPE. Finally, females with BPD had higher scores in the Sensory Sensitivity and Sensation Avoiding categories at the AASP. Conclusions: Our study highlights gender differences in substance use, emotion expression, future vision, sensory perception, and coping strategies in patients with BPD. Further gender studies may clarify these differences and guide the development of specific and differential treatments in males and females with BPD.

Personality and Post-Traumatic Growth: the Mediating Role of Career Adaptability Among Traumatized Adolescents

Trauma needs special attention during the sensitive period of adolescence, which already involves its own psychological challenges and vocational tasks. Coping with trauma requires adaptation. From the perspective of the career construction model of adaptation, career adaptability provides psycho-social resources that promote adaptation. Using this model, the aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between personality and post-traumatic growth via career adaptability. A total of 266 Iranian adolescents who had experienced the sudden death of a parent recruited. They then completed the Big Five Questionnaire, Post-traumatic Growth Inventory, and Career Adapt-abilities Scale. The results showed career adaptability partially mediated the relationship between neuroticism and openness and post-traumatic growth. In addition, the findings confirmed the full mediator role of career adaptability in the relationship between conscientiousness and post-traumatic growth. The results also indicated a direct relationship between extraversion and post-traumatic growth, but no relationship between agreeableness and post-traumatic growth. These results emphasized the essential role of career adaptability in empowering traumatized adolescents.

The Association Between Trauma Centrality and Posttraumatic Stress Among Syrian Refugees: The Impact of Cognitive Distortions and Trauma-Coping Self-Efficacy

While research suggests that the war in Syria has led to a drastic re-evaluation of oneself and elevated psychiatric symptoms among Syrian refugees, little is known whether these psychological reactions might be influenced by maladaptive beliefs about oneself and the world and their ability to cope with the effect of the trauma. This study aimed to provide further evidence on the association between trauma centrality, posttraumatic stress, and psychiatric comorbidity, and examine whether cognitive distortions and trauma-coping self-efficacy would mediate the impact of trauma centrality on distress among Syrian refugees residing in Sweden. Four-hundred seventy-five Syrian refugees completed a demographic page, the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire-28, Centrality of Event Scale, Cognitive Distortion Scales, and trauma-coping self-efficacy. Results showed that trauma centrality was significantly correlated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychiatric comorbidity after adjusting the effects of trauma exposure characteristics. Cognitive distortions mediated the impact of trauma centrality on the two distress outcomes; trauma-coping self-efficacy did not but was negatively correlated with outcomes. To conclude, the war in Syria changed self-perception, outlook on life, and identity among Syrian refugees. These changes were related to increased psychological symptoms especially for those who had distorted beliefs about themselves and the world. Refugees' belief in the lack of ability to cope with the effect of the trauma impacted psychological distress independently of changes in self-perception.

Alexithymia, Affective Lability, Impulsivity, and Childhood Adversity in Borderline Personality Disorder

Long-standing theories of borderline personality disorder (BPD) suggest that symptoms develop at least in part from childhood adversity. Emotion dysregulation may meaningfully mediate these effects. The current study examined three factors related to emotion dysregulation-alexithymia, affective lability, and impulsivity-as potential mediators of the relation between childhood adversity and BPD diagnosis in 101 individuals with BPD and 95 healthy controls. Path analysis compared three distinct models informed by the literature. Results supported a complex mediation model wherein (a) alexithymia partially mediated the relation of childhood adversity to affective lability and impulsivity; (b) affective lability mediated the relation of childhood adversity to BPD diagnosis; and (c) affective lability and impulsivity mediated the relation of alexithymia to BPD diagnosis. Findings suggest that affective lability and alexithymia are key to understanding the relationship between childhood adversity and BPD. Interventions specifically targeting affective lability, impulsivity, and alexithymia may be particularly useful for this population.

Somatic symptoms of helplessness and hopelessness

Helplessness and hopelessness are transdiagnostic and aggravating factors of mental ill health, but their relation with somatization is not well documented. The main objectives were to identify somatic symptoms that are particularly associated with helplessness, referred to as somatic symptoms of helplessness (SS-He), and hopelessness, referred to as somatic symptoms of hopelessness (SS-Ho), determine increased risk of helplessness and hopelessness if having these symptoms and a certain number of these symptoms, and determine sensitivity and specificity in identifying helplessness and hopelessness based on number of these symptoms in a general Swedish sample. Population-based data from validated questionnaire instruments were used from 3,210 participants who constituted case groups of helplessness and hopelessness, and corresponding reference groups. Among 15 common somatic symptoms, five SS-He (e.g., feeling tired/having low energy) and five SS-Ho (e.g., dizziness) were identified, showing increased risk of helplessness and hopelessness that ranged from the factor 1.73 to 2.58 and from 1.44 to 1.92, respectively, which decreased considerably when controlled for depression and anxiety. The risk of helplessness increased by the factor 1.49 for each additional SS-He, and by 1.38 for each SS-Ho. A cutoff of two/three or more SS-He showed a sensitivity of 81.7/63.7% and a specificity of 40.6/61.4% in identifying helplessness, and 77.4/54.6% and 40.4/66.1%, respectively, in identifying hopelessness based on two/three or more SS-Ho. Primary care clinicians may consider further investigation of helplessness and hopelessness as well as depression and anxiety if presenting with these symptoms.

The relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder, trauma centrality, interpersonal sensitivity and psychiatric co-morbidity among students in Kazakhstan: a Latent Class Analysis

BACKGROUND

Trauma can lead to trauma centrality and affect levels of interpersonal sensitivity and psychiatric co-morbidity. Whether a coexisting relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma centrality can influence levels of interpersonal sensitivity and psychiatric co-morbidity among university students from Kazakhstan is unknown.

AIM

To investigate the impact of the aforementioned co-existing relationship on interpersonal sensitivity and psychiatric co-morbidity among Kazakh university students.

METHODS

597 students (F = 428, M = 169) completed questionnaires measuring PTSD, psychiatric co-morbidity, interpersonal sensitivity, and trauma centrality.

RESULTS

28%, 32% and 40% met the criteria for full, partial and no-PTSD, respectively. Latent Class Analysis revealed a three-class solution: Class 1 (the altered-self group) with a low level of PTSD but a high level of trauma centrality, Class 2 (the traumatized-self group) with high levels of PTSD and trauma centrality and Class 3 (the low symptom group) with low levels of PTSD and trauma centrality. There were significant differences in the levels of interpersonal sensitivity and psychiatric co-morbidity across three classes.

CONCLUSION

There are individual differences in the display of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and trauma centrality. These differences can influence interaction with others and psychological distress.

The Impact of Past Trauma on Psychological Distress: The Roles of Defense Mechanisms and Alexithymia

Objectives

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following past trauma could lead to psychological distress. Little is known, however, about the roles of defense mechanisms and alexithymia may play in the process. The current study aimed to examine the potential impact of alexithymia and defense mechanisms on the relationship between past trauma and distress among Chinese university students.

Method

455 university students completed a set of questionnaires: PTSD Checklists for DSM-5, Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Defense Style Questionnaire, and General Health Questionnaire-28.

Results

PTSD following past trauma was associated with increased psychological distress. Alexithymia and defenses (especially immature defense) mediated the path between PTSD and psychological co-morbidities.

Conclusion

Following past trauma, people developed PTSD and other psychological symptoms. The severity of these distress symptoms was influenced by the way they defended themselves psychologically, and their ability to identify, express, and process distressing emotions.