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

Siqi Fang,Man Cheung Chung,Yabing Wang

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00992

Siqi Fang, Man Cheung Chung + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00992

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Abstract

ObjectivesPosttraumatic 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.Method455 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.ResultsPTSD following past trauma was associated with increased psychological distress. Alexithymia and defenses (especially immature defense) mediated the path between PTSD and psychological co-morbidities.ConclusionFollowing 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.

Highlights

IntroductionExposure to a traumatic event is a statistically normative experience in the general population, as exemplified by large scale epidemiology studies (Kilpatrick et al, 2013; Benjet et al, 2016), many of which (approximately 56–74%) have reported exposure to at least one potentially traumatic event (e.g., assault or accident) during their lives (Norris, 1992; Kessler et al, 1995; Breslau, 2002; Atwoli et al, 2015)
Exposure to a traumatic event is a statistically normative experience in the general population, as exemplified by large scale epidemiology studies (Kilpatrick et al, 2013; Benjet et al, 2016), many of which have reported exposure to at least one potentially traumatic event during their lives (Norris, 1992; Kessler et al, 1995; Breslau, 2002; Atwoli et al, 2015)
Defenses may be ordered hierarchically and divided into four categories according to their psychosocial maturity and level of adaptiveness (Vaillant, 1992): (1) psychotic defenses which aim to avoid or circumscribe conflicts encountered in the relationship with the external world; (2) immature defenses which aim to lessen distress and anxiety caused by threatening individuals or uncomfortable reality; (3) neurotic defenses which aim to keep potentially threatening feelings, ideas, memories, wishes, or fears out of awareness (Bond, 1986); and (4) mature defenses which may maximize gratification and allow more conscious awareness of feelings, ideas, and their consequences (Vaillant, 2011)

Summary

Introduction

Exposure to a traumatic event is a statistically normative experience in the general population, as exemplified by large scale epidemiology studies (Kilpatrick et al, 2013; Benjet et al, 2016), many of which (approximately 56–74%) have reported exposure to at least one potentially traumatic event (e.g., assault or accident) during their lives (Norris, 1992; Kessler et al, 1995; Breslau, 2002; Atwoli et al, 2015). Psychological defenses following traumas aim to hide or alleviate conflicts or stressors that give rise to anxiety (Beresford, 2012) It is an automatic and unconscious psychological process that aims to protect the individual against psychological distress and prevent awareness of internal or external danger and stress (Vaillant, 1971, 1992). It has been removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed; APA, 2013), its clinical utility and predictive value for positive adaptation is profound (Vaillant, 2011). Defenses may be ordered hierarchically and divided into four categories according to their psychosocial maturity and level of adaptiveness (Vaillant, 1992): (1) psychotic defenses (e.g., psychotic denial and distortion) which aim to avoid or circumscribe conflicts encountered in the relationship with the external world; (2) immature defenses (e.g., acting out, passive aggression, and projection) which aim to lessen distress and anxiety caused by threatening individuals or uncomfortable reality; (3) neurotic defenses (e.g., displacement, isolation, and repression) which aim to keep potentially threatening feelings, ideas, memories, wishes, or fears out of awareness (Bond, 1986); and (4) mature defenses (e.g., sublimation, humor, and altruism) which may maximize gratification and allow more conscious awareness of feelings, ideas, and their consequences (Vaillant, 2011)

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