Modeling the relationship between attachment styles and somatic symptoms with the mediating role of emotional processing
نویسندگان
1 Department of Clinical Psychology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Clinical Psychology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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4 Department of Clinical Psychology, Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences
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doi
چکیده
INTRODUCTION: In spite of our general knowledge about psychological roots and defects ofdevelopmental processes in the formation of somatic symptoms, the effect of the interaction ofdevelopmental components with cognitive‑emotional variables is unclear. Previous researchessuggest that individuals with insecure attachment may have a higher risk to experience of somaticsymptoms. The main aim of this study is “Modeling the Relationship between Attachment Styles andSomatic Symptoms with the Mediating Role of Emotional Processing.”MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a descriptive‑correlational study. Two hundred andtwenty individuals aged 18–59 years living in Tehran were selected by available sampling fromthe general population. Collins and Reed’s Adult Attachment Scale, Baker’s Emotional ProcessingScale, and Patient Health Questionnaire were used to collecting data. Data analysis was performedby Pearson correlation and independent t‑test. The conceptual model presented in this study wastested with a path analysis approach.RESULTS: Given the Chi‑squared size (² = 1.214; P > 0.05), it can be said that the proposedconceptual model fits well with the observed model. Besides, checking the other absolute and relativeindices also shows a very good fit of the model.CONCLUSION: Our results showed that when the reciprocal effects of attachment styles werecontrolled, secure attachment could be considered as a protective factor against deficits in emotionalprocessing and somatization of negative emotions. On the other hand, we found that when thedominant attachment style in individuals was anxiety based, it could be possible that they experiencedeficiency in the processing of emotion and more severe somatic symptoms.
