Pathway Linking Different Types of Childhood Trauma to Somatic Symptoms in a Subclinical Sample of Female College Students

Heshmati, Rasoul; Azmoodeh, Shahin; Caltabiano, M. L.

doi:10.1097/nmd.0000000000001323

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 85 publications

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“…Experiential avoidance may initially be a protective factor, in that people are able to temporarily move away from distress by using avoidance as a coping mechanism; however, their symptoms may worsen over time (Bakker et al, 2019). We found that CDAV was positively associated with experiential avoidance in the present study, which supports both GST and previous research (Agnew, 1992; Bhuptani et al, 2019; Daneshvar et al, 2022; Heshmati et al, 2021). These previous studies demonstrated that exposure to interpersonal victimization is likely to increase experiential avoidance among female victims.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…For female adolescents, experiencing CDAV is likely to induce strain and drive them to avoid further exposure to corresponding negative experiences. Additionally, empirical evidence indicates that experiential avoidance is a nonadaptive coping method for various adverse life experiences, such as the COVID-19 pandemic (Seçer & Ulaş, 2021), rape (Bhuptani et al, 2019), childhood maltreatment (Heshmati et al, 2021), and disordered eating (Skinner et al, 2017).…”

Section: Direct Association Between Cdav and Experiential Avoidancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Experiential avoidance, a tendency to avoid contact with specific negative internal experiences such as thoughts, feelings, memories, and bodily sensations (Zhang et al, 2014), has been identified as a significant negative outcome of various adverse life events including childhood trauma (Heshmati et al, 2021), rape disclosure, and sexual victimization (Bhuptani et al, 2019; Merwin et al, 2009). Research suggests that experiential avoidance alters an individual’s emotional experience, thereby increasing psychological distress and exacerbating psychiatric disorders and maladaptive behaviors, such as depressive symptoms and self-injurious behaviors (Brem et al, 2017; Howe-Martin et al, 2012; Mellick et al, 2017).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Cyber Dating Abuse Victimization and Experiential Avoidance Among Chinese Female Adolescents: The Roles of Self-Compassion and Interpersonal Flexibility

Wang

Wei

et al. 2022

J Interpers Violence

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Cyber dating abuse victimization (CDAV) among female adolescents is common and harmful; however, little is known regarding how CDAV relates to victims’ experiential avoidance in the Chinese context. Drawing from general strain theory, this cross-sectional study investigated possible differences in the relationships among CDAV, experiential avoidance, and self-compassion according to female adolescents’ levels of interpersonal flexibility (low vs. high). A sample of 420 female adolescents aged 13 to 17 years (mean age = 15.78 years) who had been in intimate relationships during the past year participated in a voluntary and anonymous paper-and-pencil survey. Participants completed four self-reported measures on CDAV experience, self-compassion, experiential avoidance, and interpersonal flexibility. The findings indicated that nearly 49% of participants had experienced CDAV in the last year; CDAV exposure was directly linked with experiential avoidance and indirectly related to experiential avoidance through self-compassion. Moderation analyses showed that the negative associations between CDAV and experiential avoidance and self-compassion were only significant among participants with low interpersonal flexibility. These findings deepen the understanding of CDAV as a risk factor for reduced self-compassion and increased experiential avoidance in female adolescents. However, high interpersonal flexibility is a potential protector. This study has implications for the prevention of experiential avoidance among female adolescents exposed to CDAV and supports incorporating self-compassion and interpersonal flexibility skills to combat the negative outcomes of CDAV.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Direct Association Between Cdav and Experiential Avoidancementioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Cyber Dating Abuse Victimization and Experiential Avoidance Among Chinese Female Adolescents: The Roles of Self-Compassion and Interpersonal Flexibility

Wang

Wei

et al. 2022

J Interpers Violence

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“…The PHQ-15 is often used as a measure of somatic symptom proneness (eg, Ref. [ 43 ]), and it has been shown to be useful in identifying somatic symptom disorder [ 44 ]. Each item assesses the degree to which individuals experience a specific somatic symptom rated on a scale from 0 (not bothered at all) to 2 (bothered a lot), with higher scores indicating a greater severity of somatic symptoms.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of Cyberchondria During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Study Using Supervised Machine Learning

Infanti¹,

Starčević²,

Schimmenti³

et al. 2023

JMIR Form Res

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Background Cyberchondria is characterized by repeated and compulsive online searches for health information, resulting in increased health anxiety and distress. It has been conceptualized as a multidimensional construct fueled by both anxiety and compulsivity-related factors and described as a “transdiagnostic compulsive behavioral syndrome,” which is associated with health anxiety, problematic internet use, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Cyberchondria is not included in the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and its defining features, etiological mechanisms, and assessment continue to be debated. Objective This study aims to investigate changes in the severity of cyberchondria during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify the predictors of cyberchondria at this time. Methods Data collection started on May 4, 2020, and ended on June 10, 2020, which corresponds to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. At the time the study took place, French-speaking countries in Europe (France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg) all implemented lockdown or semilockdown measures. The survey consisted of a questionnaire collecting demographic information (sex, age, education level, and country of residence) and information about socioeconomic circumstances during the first lockdown (eg, economic situation, housing, and employment status) and was followed by several instruments assessing various psychological and health-related constructs. Inclusion criteria for the study were being at least 18 years of age and having a good understanding of French. Self-report data were collected from 725 participants aged 18-77 (mean 33.29, SD 12.88) years, with females constituting the majority (416/725, 57.4%). Results The results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic affected various facets of cyberchondria: cyberchondria-related distress and compulsion increased (distress z=–3.651, P<.001; compulsion z=–5.697, P<.001), whereas the reassurance facet of cyberchondria decreased (z=–6.680, P<.001). In addition, COVID-19–related fears and health anxiety emerged as the strongest predictors of cyberchondria-related distress and interference with functioning during the pandemic. Conclusions These findings provide evidence of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cyberchondria and identify factors that should be considered in efforts to prevent and manage cyberchondria at times of public health crises. In addition, they are consistent with a theoretical model of cyberchondria during the COVID-19 pandemic proposed in 2020. These findings have implications for the conceptualization and future assessment of cyberchondria.

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“…For example, children or adolescents in their early stages of psychological development are particularly susceptible to the impact of negative life events and are at a higher risk of developing somatic symptoms [ 11 ]. Additionally, previous research showed that the college students who have experienced high levels of childhood trauma reported more somatic symptoms, likely due to the stress associated with the transition period from adolescence to adulthood [ 12 ]. In particular, the college students face a range of academic and social demands and need to adapt to various psychological changes in preparation for their working lives, which can make this period one of the most stressful periods of an individual’s life.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between Negative Life Events and Somatic Symptoms: A Mediation Model through Self-Esteem and Depression

Tong

et al. 2023

Behavioral Sciences

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the serial multiple mediation of self-esteem and depression in the relationship between negative life events and somatic symptoms in Chinese medical students. We recruited a total of 3383 medical students for this study, and used the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 to assess the somatic symptoms of subjects; the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check List to assess negative life events; the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale to assess self-esteem; and the Patient Health Questionnaire for depression. Descriptive analysis and statistical tests were then performed on the collected data. We showed that 39.17% of the medical students had mild somatic symptoms, 24.14% had moderate somatic symptoms, and 5.66% had severe somatic symptoms; we observed significant differences in somatic symptoms among genders, living expenses, and one-child. For negative life events, interpersonal stress was the most important predictor of somatization during the regression analysis. In addition, we observed significance for both the direct and part of the indirect paths from negative life events to somatic symptoms using mediation model analysis. However, we noted that there was no significance for the path through negative life events and self-esteem to somatic symptoms. This study revealed a high prevalence of somatic symptoms among Chinese medical students, and the findings suggested that interventions aimed at reducing somatization in this population should consider the impact of negative life events, particularly those related to interpersonal stress. One potential approach to mitigating the effects of negative life events on somatization is to enhance self-esteem and decrease the level of depression among medical students.

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Pathway Linking Different Types of Childhood Trauma to Somatic Symptoms in a Subclinical Sample of Female College Students

Abstract: Research has shown that women are more prone to childhood trauma

Cited by 7 publications

References 85 publications

Cyber Dating Abuse Victimization and Experiential Avoidance Among Chinese Female Adolescents: The Roles of Self-Compassion and Interpersonal Flexibility

Cyber Dating Abuse Victimization and Experiential Avoidance Among Chinese Female Adolescents: The Roles of Self-Compassion and Interpersonal Flexibility

Predictors of Cyberchondria During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Study Using Supervised Machine Learning

Association between Negative Life Events and Somatic Symptoms: A Mediation Model through Self-Esteem and Depression

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