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. 2021 Oct 15;21(1):508.
doi: 10.1186/s12888-021-03532-4.

Mediation role of alexithymia, sensory processing sensitivity and emotional-mental processes between childhood trauma and adult psychopathology: a self-report study

Pelin Karaca Dinç  1   2 , Seda Oktay  3 , Ayşegül Durak Batıgün  3
Affiliations

Mediation role of alexithymia, sensory processing sensitivity and emotional-mental processes between childhood trauma and adult psychopathology: a self-report study

Pelin Karaca Dinç et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: There 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.

Methods: The 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.

Results: The 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.

Conclusion: This 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.

Keywords: Alexithymia; Mentalization; Psychopathology; Sensory processing; Trauma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mediating role of Sensory processing sensitivity, Alexithymia, Eyes in the relationship between childhood trauma and psychological symptoms. Note 1. BSI = Brief Symptom Inventory, SPS = Sensory Processing Sensitivity Scale, TAS-26 = Toronto Alexithymia Scale, CTQ = Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, EYES = Reading Mind in The Eyes Test. Note 2 *** p < .001, ** p < .01, * p < .05. Note 3. The results were obtained after controlling for the effect of the gender variable
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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