Journal article
Childhood maltreatment and somatic symptoms: Examining the role of specific types of childhood maltreatment and alexithymia
Psychological trauma, Vol.16(Suppl 1), pp.S2-S9
04/2024
DOI: 10.1037/tra0001315
PMCID: PMC9832170
PMID: 35816585
Abstract
OBJECTIVEGiven the strong association between a history of childhood maltreatment and somatic symptoms, identification of therapeutically modifiable intervention targets is warranted. Alexithymia, or difficulty identifying and describing emotions, may be playing an important role. The present study examined contributions of alexithymia and childhood maltreatment as related to somatic symptoms. METHODParticipants (N = 447) completed measures of childhood maltreatment, alexithymia, and somatic symptoms. Two three-step hierarchical linear regressions were conducted to examine the unique contribution of alexithymia after accounting for demographic characteristics and childhood maltreatment. The first regression utilized total scores, and the second explored five domains of childhood maltreatment, a trauma validity index, and three domains of alexithymia. RESULTSIn the first linear regression, childhood maltreatment and alexithymia were significantly associated with higher somatic symptoms. In the second linear regression, childhood maltreatment and alexithymia both significantly added to the model; however, only emotional abuse was significantly associated with somatic symptoms. CONCLUSIONSIn line with previous research, childhood maltreatment and alexithymia are associated with somatic symptoms. Given specific domains of alexithymia were nonsignificant in this relationship, it appears no single aspect of alexithymia is of greater importance. Future research should examine these associations longitudinally, as improving alexithymia may help improve outcomes in individuals with childhood maltreatment history experiencing somatic symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Childhood maltreatment and somatic symptoms: Examining the role of specific types of childhood maltreatment and alexithymia
- Creators
- Jenna L AdamowiczZoe SirotiakEmily B K Thomas
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Psychological trauma, Vol.16(Suppl 1), pp.S2-S9
- DOI
- 10.1037/tra0001315
- PMID
- 35816585
- PMCID
- PMC9832170
- NLM abbreviation
- Psychol Trauma
- ISSN
- 1942-9681
- eISSN
- 1942-969X
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health, award: T32GM108540
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 07/11/2022
- Date published
- 04/2024
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984297002902771
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