The Examination of Psychological Symptoms in Adults in terms of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Cognitive Fusion, Experiential Avoidance, and Perceived Social Support

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to determine the relationships between psychological symptoms in adults, adverse childhood experiences, cognitive engagement, experiential avoidance, and perceived social support. Another aim of the study is to examine whether psychological symptoms differ according to demographic variables such as age, gender and education level. The sample of the study consists of adults between the ages of 18-65. Brief Symptom Inventory, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short Form, Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used as data collection instruments. Analyses showed that adverse childhood experiences, cognitive fusion and perveived social support predict psychological symptoms in adults. In addition, depression, anxiety, negative self and hostility symptoms were found to be higher in the participants aged 18-24 compared to the participants in the 25-40 and 41-65 age groups. It was thought that this study will contribute to understanding the nature of psychological symptoms and identfiying the intervention areas of psychotherapies.