The Mediating Role of Defense Mechanisms in the Relationship between Childhood Trauma and Psychological Capital in College Students with Psychosomatic Symptoms

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the mediating role of defense mechanisms in the relationship between childhood trauma and psychological capital in college students with psychosomatic symptoms in 2021. This study was conducted using a basic purpose, descriptive cross-sectional correlational method. The instruments used in the study were the Defense Styles Questionnaire (DSQ), Childhood Injuries and Trauma (CTQ), Psychological Capital (PCQ), and Mohr Psychosocial Symptoms Questionnaire (MPSNCQ), which were created online and sent to participants via virtual messenger networks. Pearson correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling using SPSS-22 and Smart PLS-3 software were used for data analysis. The correlation coefficients revealed that there was a negative relationship between childhood trauma and psychological capital (r= -0.556) and developed defense mechanism (r= -0.602) and a positive relationship with underdeveloped defense mechanisms (r = 0.561) and impaired defense (r= 0/757) (P<0.01). There is a positive relationship between developed defense mechanisms and psychological capital (r= 0.775) and a negative relationship between underdeveloped defense mechanisms (r= -0.772) and disturbed defense (r= -0.604) with psychological capital (P<0.01). Path analysis showed that the indirect effect of childhood trauma on psychological capital mediated by an underdeveloped defense mechanism of -0.263, a developed defense mechanism of -0.298 was significant (p<0.05). Consequently, it is important that mental health professionals and parents develop well-developed defense mechanisms against childhood trauma to preserve their children's psychological capital in adulthood.

Keywords

• defense mechanisms
• childhood trauma
• psychological capital
• psychosomatic symptom