The Relationship Between Gender, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder from Past Trauma, Alexithymia and Psychiatric Co-morbidity in Chinese Adolescents: A Moderated Mediational Analysis

Offline and online basic need satisfaction and smartphone use behaviors: A mediation model

Based on the self-determination theory, this study compared the offline and online need satisfaction during the COVID-19 period and investigated how the fulfilment experienced in the different settings affected an individual's smartphone use outcomes. 546 Chinese undergraduate students participated in the study and were measured with their levels of offline and online basic need satisfaction, smartphone use patterns, and problematic smartphone use. The results showed that offline basic need satisfaction negatively predicted problematic smartphone use via the information seeking pattern, whereas online basic need satisfaction positively predicted problematic smartphone use via the use patterns of transaction and entertainment. Our study expands the research scope of the pertinent topic and pinpoints the mechanism between the basic need satisfaction and problematic smartphone use.

Network analysis on the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder, psychiatric co-morbidity and posttraumatic growth among Chinese adolescents

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychiatric co-morbidity and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among Chinese adolescents using network analysis.

METHODS

867 Chinese adolescents (male = 424, female = 443) were recruited from three secondary schools. They completed the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and the General Health Questionnaire-28.

RESULTS

Domains of each construct mainly clustered within their respective communities with several bridging edges identified. The prominent roles of bridging nodes and edges (positive and negative) were highlighted. Key bridging nodes were negative alterations in cognitions and mood for PTSD, anxiety and insomnia for psychiatric co-morbidity and appreciation of life for PTG.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional nature of the present study may preclude the identification of real causal relationships between nodes.

CONCLUSIONS

Following a trauma, adolescents displayed posttraumatic stress along with general psychological disorder symptoms. These distress reactions could affect the way they appreciated life and their motivation to seek future life possibilities. Findings from the current study may provide some clue for the facilitation of posttraumatic growth among clinical patients.

Stress, academic burnout, smartphone use types and problematic smartphone use: The moderation effects of resilience

Few studies have investigated stress in association with social and process smartphone use and how these types of use influence problematic smartphone use during the COVID-19 pandemic; furthermore, the moderation effects of resilience have been rarely tested in this model. For these, a cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 766 Chinese undergraduate students (74.4% female; M = 20.1 years, SD = 1.15) who were measured with their levels of stress, academic burnout, smartphone use types (social/process smartphone use), resilience, and problematic smartphone use. Based on the I-PACE theory, we built a structural equation model, and the results indicated that compared with social smartphone use, process smartphone use more related to problematic smartphone use; academic burnout fully mediated between stress and process smartphone use, and between stress and problematic smartphone use. Moreover, resilience moderated between stress and academic burnout, between academic burnout and process smartphone use, and between academic burnout and problematic smartphone use. We discuss the process smartphone use as a key indicator of problematic smartphone use and the role of academic burnout for linking stress and smartphone use behaviors. In addition, interventions for enhancing resilience should be launched in the future.

Alexithymia and Problematic Mobile Phone Use: A Moderated Mediation Model

Alexithymia has been studied with its impact on problematic mobile phone use. However, none of these studies has examined the roles of mindfulness facets in this relationship. To address this issue, a total of 901 Chinese undergraduate students participated in this study and were tested with questionnaires for measuring their levels of alexithymia, problematic mobile phone use, and mindfulness facets. A moderated mediation model was constructed to examine the roles of mindfulness facets in the association between alexithymia and problematic mobile phone use. The results showed that after controlling for age and sex, alexithymia positively predicted problematic mobile phone use both directly (β = 0.157, p < 0.001) and indirectly via mindfulness facet of acting with awareness (16^th, 50^th, and 84^th percentiles of observing were −5.371, β = 0.019; −0.371, β = 0.216; and 4.629, β = 0.242, respectively, and the 95% confidence intervals were 0.142 to 0.246; 0.167 to 0.269; and 0.186 to 0.3, respectively). The facet of acting with awareness partially mediated this relationship in a negative way. Further, the facet of observing moderated the path between alexithymia and the facet of acting with awareness: with a higher level of observing, the negative association between alexithymia and acting with awareness became more negative (alexithymia × observing, β = −0.006, p = 0.001, 95% confidence interval −0.01 to −0.003). The current study advanced our understanding of the mechanism underlying the connection between alexithymia and problematic mobile phone use and helped to investigate how mindfulness skills benefited the individuals.

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

Objectives

Posttraumatic 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.

Method

455 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.

Results

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

Conclusion

Following 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.

The relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder, trauma centrality, posttraumatic growth and psychiatric co-morbidity among Chinese adolescents

This study examined the inter-relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from past trauma, psychiatric co-morbidity, trauma centrality and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among Chinese adolescents. Nine hundred and forty-eight Chinese adolescents (M = 462, F = 486) were recruited from two secondary schools. They completed the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5, the Centrality of Events Scale, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the General Health Questionnaire-28, and the Educational Stress Scale for Adolescents. After controlling for demographic variables and levels of academic stress, structural equation modeling showed that PTSD was positively associated with trauma centrality and psychiatric co-morbidity but negatively associated with posttraumatic growth. Trauma centrality mediated the impacts of PTSD on posttraumatic growth and psychiatric co-morbidity. To conclude, PTSD from past trauma could impact adolescents' ways of perceiving positive aspects of their trauma and psychological well-being. Such impact, however, was influenced by the changes in their self-concept.

Mindfulness and Suicide Risk in Undergraduates: Exploring the Mediating Effect of Alexithymia

The present study was designed to examine the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and suicide risk in undergraduates, and it further explored the potential mediating role of alexithymia in this relationship. A total of 2,633 undergraduates completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire – Revised (SBQ-R), and the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). The results indicate that mindfulness and suicide risk were negatively correlated, and alexithymia partially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and suicide risk only in the female undergraduates. Moreover, only the difficulty in identifying feelings (DIF) factor of alexithymia mediated the relationship between mindfulness and suicide risk in the female undergraduates. These findings contribute to the potential mechanism that explains the relationship between mindfulness and suicide risk. Furthermore, it is possible to implement mindfulness in the suicide intervention of alexithymic individuals.

Posttraumatic Stress and Interpersonal Sensitivity: Alexithymia as Mediator and Emotional Expressivity as Moderator

This study examined 1) the link between PTSD from past trauma, interpersonal sensitivity and psychiatric co-morbidity, 2) mediational effects of alexithymia on 1), and 3) moderated mediational effects with emotional expressivity as the moderator. Five hundred and fifteen Kazakh students completed the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale, General Health Questionnaire-28, Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, Berkeley Expressivity Questionnaire and Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure. The results showed that 28% met the criteria for full-PTSD. Controlling for academic year, age and university major, PTSD from past trauma was significantly correlated with interpersonal sensitivity and psychiatric co-morbidity. Alexithymia mediated the impact of PTSD on interpersonal sensitivity and psychiatric co-morbidity. Alexithymia, however, did not interact with type of emotional expressivity to influence outcomes. Moderated mediational effects were not found. To conclude, following trauma, Kazakh students can experience heightened levels of interpersonal sensitivity and psychological symptoms. These problems are particularly severe for those who have difficulty getting in touch with their emotions.

The impact of past trauma on psychological distress among Chinese students: The roles of cognitive distortion and alexithymia

Past traumatic events are distressing experiences which can result in the emergence of posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and other psychological symptoms among university students. However, little is known as to whether or not cognitive distortion and alexithymia would influence the severity of these distress outcomes. This study examined a cognitive-emotional framework depicting potential roles that cognitive distortion and alexithymia could play in influencing the relationship between past trauma and psychiatric co-morbidities among university students in China. One thousand one hundred and eleven participants completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, Cognitive Distortion Scale (CDS), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Results indicated that PTSD following past trauma was significantly associated with increased psychiatric co-morbidities after controlling for covariates. Both alexithymia and distorted cognition mediated the association between PTSD and psychiatric co-morbidities. To conclude, university students can develop PTSD from past trauma and other mental health problems. The severity of psychological distress can be influenced by their distorted perceptions of themselves, the world, and the future, as well as their ability to identify, describe, and express distressing emotions.