The indirect effect from childhood maltreatment to PTSD symptoms via thought suppression and cognitive reappraisal

Childhood maltreatment is associated with eating disorder symptoms; however, the nature of this association is unclear. We found those who experienced childhood maltreatment had higher avoidant coping and eating disorder symptoms. We also found an additive effect for maltreatment, such that with more types of maltreatment experienced, avoidant coping and eating disorder symptoms were greater. We also found evidence of an indirect effect such that childhood maltreatment was related to eating disorder symptoms through avoidant coping. Future research is needed to better understand factors that may promote development of adaptive coping patterns and prevention of eating disorder symptoms.

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Relationships Among Childhood Maltreatment, Limbic System Dysfunction, and Eating Disorders in College Women

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260520912590 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 088626052091259

Author(s):

Andrea E. Mercurio ◽

Fang Hong ◽

Carolyn Amir ◽

Amanda R. Tarullo ◽

Anna Samkavitz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Eating Disorder ◽

College Women ◽

Limbic System ◽

Indirect Effect ◽

Childhood Maltreatment ◽

Eating Pathology ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Eating Disorder Symptoms

The mechanisms linking childhood maltreatment and eating pathology are not fully understood. We examined the mediating role of limbic system dysfunction in the relationships between three forms of childhood maltreatment (parental psychological maltreatment, parental physical maltreatment, and parental emotional neglect) and eating disorder symptoms. A convenience sample of college women ( N = 246, M age = 19.62, SD = 2.41) completed measures of maltreatment (Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales and the Parental Bonding Instrument), limbic system dysfunction (Limbic System Questionnaire), and eating pathology (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire). We hypothesized that there would be an indirect effect of each type of childhood maltreatment on eating disorder symptoms via limbic system irritability. Results generally supported the hypotheses. Examination of the individual paths that defined the indirect effect indicated that higher reported childhood maltreatment was associated with greater limbic irritability symptoms, and higher limbic irritability symptomatology was related to higher total eating disorder scores. There were no significant direct effects for any of the proposed models. Findings are in line with research supporting the role of limbic system dysfunction as a possible pathway in the maltreatment-eating disorder link. Given that limbic system dysfunction may underlie behavioral symptoms of eating disorders, efforts targeting limbic system dysfunction associated with child maltreatment might best be undertaken at an early developmental stage, although interventions for college women struggling with eating disorders are also crucial.

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The effects of childhood maltreatment on semantic networks during cognitive reappraisal of emotion

IBRO Reports ◽

10.1016/j.ibror.2019.07.631 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. S202

Author(s):

Sang Won Lee ◽

Seung Ho Kim ◽

Hyunsil Cha ◽

Yongmin Chang ◽

Seung Jae Lee

Keyword(s):

Childhood Maltreatment ◽

Cognitive Reappraisal ◽

Semantic Networks

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Disclosing Unwanted Pursuit Victimization: Indirect Effects of Negative Reactions on PTSD Symptomatology Among Undergraduate Women

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260519884696 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 088626051988469

Author(s):

Christina M. Dardis ◽

Katie R. Davin ◽

Stephanie B. Lietzau ◽

Christine A. Gidycz

Keyword(s):

Romantic Relationships ◽

Indirect Effect ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Social Reactions ◽

Undergraduate Women ◽

Unwanted Pursuit ◽

Negative Social Reactions ◽

Ptsd Symptomatology

A growing literature has documented that negative social reactions to disclosures of sexual and intimate partner violence (IPV), such as victim blaming or disbelief, can negatively affect survivors’ recovery. However, despite growing recognition of the frequency of unwanted pursuit behaviors (UPBs; for example, stalking, excessive or threatening contact) following romantic relationships and their negative effects on survivors, research to date has not explored disclosures, social reactions, or their impacts among victims of UPBs. The purpose of the present study was to assess the frequency of disclosures of UPB victimization to various sources, social reactions received, and their associations with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among a sample of 318 undergraduate women (ages 18-24) who reported a breakup within the past 3 years, 59.7% ( n =190) reported experiencing UPBs. Nearly all of the women (92.6%; n =176) who experienced UPBs disclosed their victimization to others. Among women who disclosed, the most frequent recipient of disclosure was a female friend (93.2%, n = 164) and women reported receiving higher mean positive than negative social reactions ( p < .001). Results supported the hypothesized indirect effect of UPB victimization on PTSD symptoms through increases in negative social reactions ( p < .001); these results suggest that negative social reactions to UPB victimization may increase the risk for PTSD symptomatology. By contrast, there was no indirect effect via positive social reactions ( p = .205). Implications for research and clinical practice will be discussed.

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Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Severity Mediates the Relationship Between Military Sexual Trauma and Tension Reduction Behaviors in Male and Female Veterans

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260519864355 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 088626051986435

Author(s):

Susan M. Hannan ◽

Katie B. Thomas ◽

Carolyn B. Allard

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Indirect Effect ◽

Sexual Trauma ◽

Military Sexual Trauma ◽

Female Veterans ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

Tension Reduction ◽

Male And Female ◽

History Of ◽

The Relationship

Numerous studies attest to the prevalence and complex negative consequences associated with military sexual trauma (MST). However, relatively less is known about male survivors and about the interaction of psychological problems such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and emotion management difficulties following MST. The current study examined the path of psychological distress following MST in both male and female veterans. We predicted that (a) history of MST would predict more severe PTSD symptoms, which in turn would predict greater use of dysfunctional emotion management strategies (specifically, tension reduction behaviors) and that (b) PTSD symptoms would mediate the relationship between history of MST and tension reduction behaviors. Finally, we explored whether the indirect (i.e., mediating) effect was moderated by gender. Data were obtained from pretreatment paper and pencil assessments administered as part of standard clinical care from 338 veterans seeking treatment at a Veterans Affairs (VA) mental health specialty clinic. Veterans who endorsed MST experienced more severe PTSD symptoms and greater reported use of tension reduction behaviors. Bootstrapping testing the indirect effect revealed that PTSD symptoms mediated the relationship between history of MST and tension reduction behaviors. An exploratory moderated mediation analysis found that the indirect effect did not differ as a function of gender. PTSD symptoms appear to mediate the relationship between MST and tension reduction behaviors in veterans, regardless of gender. While previous research has suggested that civilian men report a greater number of tension reduction behaviors following a sexual assault compared to civilian women, we did not find the same gender differences among veterans. These results may provide support for using trauma-focused treatment even when MST survivors are reporting high-risk tension reduction behaviors.

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Individual Differences in Cognitive Reappraisal Predict Emotional Experience Prior to Achievement Situations

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000231 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 144-154 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Stefania Balzarotti ◽

Valentina Chiarella ◽

Maria Rita Ciceri

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Indirect Effect ◽

Positive Emotions ◽

Longitudinal Design ◽

Emotional Experience ◽

Negative Emotions ◽

Cognitive Reappraisal ◽

Positive And Negative Affect ◽

Time Points

Abstract. In the present study, we examined whether individual differences in the use of cognitive reappraisal predict the experience of more positive and less negative emotions prior to an evaluative task, as well as whether reappraisal is associated with better performance. In a longitudinal design, 130 students were asked to report their spontaneous use of reappraisal as well as the emotions experienced at three time points prior to an academic exam. Results showed that the use of cognitive reappraisal measured when students began to study predicted less negative and more positive emotions in the following two weeks. Further, positive and negative affect were significant predictors of the grade achieved. Finally, cognitive reappraisal had a significant indirect effect on the grade students achieved. These findings suggest that cognitive reappraisal can be effective in regulating emotions while approaching evaluative stressors.

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Cognitive reappraisal moderates the relationship between PTSD symptoms and alcohol use over time in post-9/11 U.S. military veterans

Drug and Alcohol Dependence ◽

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.06.032 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 191 ◽

pp. 159-164 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Darrin M. Aase ◽

Stephanie M. Gorka ◽

Justin E. Greenstein ◽

Eric Proescher ◽

Natania A. Crane ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Military Veterans ◽

Cognitive Reappraisal ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

The Relationship ◽

Over Time

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The Association Between Childhood Maltreatment and Coping Strategies: The Indirect Effect Through Attachment

The Journal of Genetic Psychology ◽

10.1080/00221325.2016.1220912 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 177 (5) ◽

pp. 156-171 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Matthew R. Perlman ◽

Anne E. Dawson ◽

Christina M. Dardis ◽

Theresa Egan ◽

Timothy Anderson

Keyword(s):

Coping Strategies ◽

Indirect Effect ◽

Childhood Maltreatment ◽

And Coping

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Thinking about My Existence during COVID-19, I Feel Anxiety and Awe—The Mediating Role of Existential Anxiety and Life Satisfaction on the Relationship between PTSD Symptoms and Post-Traumatic Growth

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17197062 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (19) ◽

pp. 7062 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Katarzyna Tomaszek ◽

Agnieszka Muchacka-Cymerman

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Indirect Effect ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Traumatic Experience ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

Trauma Symptoms ◽

Existential Anxiety ◽

Post Traumatic Growth ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

The Relationship

Background: The global outbreak of COVID-19set new challenges and threats for every human being. In the psychological field it is similar to deep existential crises or a traumatic experience that may lead to the appearance or exacerbation of a serious mental disorder and loss of life meaning and satisfaction. Courtney et al. (2020) discussed deadly pandemic COVID-19 in the light of TMT theory and named it as global contagion of mortality that personally affected every human being. Such unique conditions activate existential fears as people start to be aware of their own mortality. Objective: The main aim of this study was to test the mediating effect of existential anxiety, activated by COVID-19 and life satisfaction (SWLS) on the relationship between PTSD symptoms and post-traumatic growth (PTG). We also examined the moderated mediating effect of severity of trauma symptoms on life satisfaction and existential anxiety and its associations with PTG. Method: We conducted an online survey during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in Poland. The participants completed existential anxiety scale (SNE), life satisfaction scale (SWLS), IES-R scale for measuring the level of PTSD symptoms and post-traumatic growth inventory (PTGI). Results: The effect of PTSD on PTG was found to be mediated by existential anxiety and life satisfaction. We also confirmed two indirect effects: (1) the indirect effect of PTSD on PTG via existential anxiety and life satisfaction tested simultaneously; (2) the indirect effect of life satisfaction on PTG through severity of trauma symptoms. An intermediate or high level of PTSD level was related to less PTG when low and full PTSD stress symptoms strengthened PTG experiences. Conclusions: A therapeutic intervention for individuals after traumatic experience should attempt to include fundamental existential questions and meaning of life as well as the severity of PTSD symptoms. The severity of traumatic sensations may affect the relationship between life satisfaction and post-traumatic growth.

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