Abstract
BackgroundThere is overwhelming evidence for a strong association between childhood trauma and adult psychopathology. This study aimed to investigate the mediation roles of alexithymia, sensory processing sensitivity, and emotional-mental processes in the relationship between childhood traumas and adult psychopathology.MethodsThe sample consisted of 337 people (78.9% female, 21.1% male) aged between 20 and 64 years. Participants filled the scales online via a Google form. Reading Mind in the Eyes (EYES), Sensory Processing Sensitivity Scale (SPS), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-26), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) were used. PROCESS (Model 4) macro was used to examine the mediating role of sensory processing sensitivity, alexithymia, and the EYES test results in the relationship between childhood trauma and psychopathology.ResultsThe results of mediation analysis demonstrated that sensory processing sensitivity and alexithymia mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and adult psychopathology. However, the EYES test (mentalization) did not mediate in this relationship.ConclusionThis study shows that childhood traumas may relate to more psychological symptoms in individuals with high sensory processing sensitivity and alexithymia. Our study may contribute to the understanding of what may lead to a person’s vulnerability to experiencing psychological symptoms after childhood trauma. It may be crucial that future treatment and intervention programs should include sensory sensitivity and alexithymia. Sensory processing sensitivity and alexithymia can be examined in the treatment of psychological problems of individuals who have experienced childhood trauma.
Highlights
Childhood trauma is defined as a psychological consequence of sudden or ongoing disruptive experiences that temporarily leave the child feeling helpless, damage coping mechanisms, or a series of continuous external injuries [1]
The subscales of Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) scale were examined in terms of demographic variables
Our study may contribute to the understanding of what may lead to a person’s vulnerability to experiencing psychopathology after childhood trauma
Summary
Childhood trauma is defined as a psychological consequence of sudden or ongoing disruptive experiences that temporarily leave the child feeling helpless, damage coping mechanisms, or a series of continuous external injuries [1]. In a study conducted with a German sample, 2510 female participants aged 14–94 completed the Child Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ); as a result, 2.6% of the participants stated that they were subjected to severe emotional abuse, 3.3% physical abuse, 2.3% sexual abuse, 7.1% emotional neglect, and 9% physical neglect [3]. In a meta-analysis of mainly USA and Canada non-clinical samples under 18 years of age, physical and emotional neglect were prevalent in 16.3 and 18.4%, respectively [4]. 32.3% of Turkish students stated that they experienced emotional abuse, 14.6% physical abuse, and 8.9% sexual abuse [6]. This situation reveals that sexual abuse is a universal problem [7]. This study aimed to investigate the mediation roles of alexithymia, sensory processing sensitivity, and emotional-mental processes in the relationship between childhood traumas and adult psychopathology
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