Effects of traumatic experiences on obsessive-compulsive and internalizing symptoms: The role of avoidance and mindfulness

Emily B Kroska; Michelle L Miller; Anne I Roche; Sydney K Kroska; Michael W O'Hara

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.039

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Effects of traumatic experiences on obsessive-compulsive and internalizing symptoms: The role of avoidance and mindfulness

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Effects of traumatic experiences on obsessive-compulsive and internalizing symptoms: The role of avoidance and mindfulness

Emily B Kroska, Michelle L Miller, Anne I Roche, Sydney K Kroska and Michael W O'Hara

Journal of affective disorders, Vol.225, pp.326-336

01/01/2018

DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.039

PMCID: PMC5654743

PMID: 28843915

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/5654743View

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Abstract

Trauma exposure is associated with adverse psychological outcomes including anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms. Adolescence is increasingly recognized as a period of vulnerability for the onset of these types of psychological symptoms. The current study explored the mediating roles of experiential avoidance and mindfulness processes in the association between retrospective reports of childhood trauma and current internalizing and OC symptoms in adolescents. A group of at-risk adolescents (N = 51) and a group of college students (N = 400) reported on childhood trauma, experiential avoidance, mindfulness, anxiety, depressive, and OC symptoms. Mediation analyses were performed to examine the mechanistic roles of avoidance and mindfulness in the association between trauma and internalizing and OC-specific symptoms. In the group of at-risk adolescents, experiential avoidance and mindfulness both significantly mediated the association between childhood trauma and OC symptoms. In the college student sample, experiential avoidance mediated the association between trauma and OC symptoms. Experiential avoidance, as well as the observe, act with awareness, and nonjudgmental facets of mindfulness all significantly mediated the association between trauma and internalizing symptoms. The group of at-risk adolescents was small, and the college student group was demographically homogeneous. All data was self-report and cross-sectional. The current study demonstrated that experiential avoidance and mindfulness processes may be the mechanisms through which the association between trauma and obsessive-compulsive and trauma and internalizing symptoms exist in adolescents. These findings provide potential targets for clinical intervention to improve outcomes for adolescents who have experienced trauma.

Adaptation, Psychological

Adolescent

Anxiety Disorders - psychology

Avoidance Learning

Cross-Sectional Studies

Depressive Disorder - psychology

Female

Humans

Male

Mindfulness

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - psychology

Retrospective Studies

Self Report

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology

Wounds and Injuries - psychology

Young Adult

Details

Title: Subtitle: Effects of traumatic experiences on obsessive-compulsive and internalizing symptoms: The role of avoidance and mindfulness
Creators: Emily B Kroska - University of Iowa, USA. Electronic address: emily-kroska@uiowa.edu
Michelle L Miller - University of Iowa, USA
Anne I Roche - University of Iowa, USA
Sydney K Kroska - University of Iowa, USA
Michael W O'Hara - University of Iowa, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of affective disorders, Vol.225, pp.326-336
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.039
PMID: 28843915
PMCID: PMC5654743
NLM abbreviation: J Affect Disord
ISSN: 0165-0327
eISSN: 1573-2517
Grant note: T32 GM108540 / NIGMS NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 01/01/2018
Academic Unit: Neurology; Psychological and Brain Sciences
Record Identifier: 9984214743602771

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