Çocukluk Çağı Travmaları ile Depresyon Arasındaki İlişkide Aleksitiminin Aracı Rolü

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of alexithymia in the relationship between childhood traumas and depression. The study consisted 229 participants, 127 women (55.5%) and 102 men (44.5%), aged between 20-65 years (mean=32.70, SD=10.32). The Childhood Trauma Scale was used to assess childhood traumas, Beck Depression Inventory was used for evaluating depression, and Perth Alexithymia Scale was used for alexithymia. Pearson Product Moment coefficient method was applied to determine the correlation between the variables. Independent samples t-test was used to examine whether the variables differed according to gender. Model 4 in PROCESS Macro V.3.4 program was applied to investigate the mediating role of alexithymia in the relationship between childhood traumas and depression. In the comparison analysis accoding to gender, no statistically significant difference was found between men and women in terms of depression, childhood traumas and alexithymia scores. Correlation analysis revealed positive correlations between childhood traumas and depression and alexithymia. In addition, there was a positive correlation between depression and alexithymia. In mediation analysis it was determined that alexithymia has a partial mediating role in the relationship between childhood traumas and depression. In conclusion, in this study, alexithymia was found to have a partial mediating role in the relationship between childhood traumas and depression. It was determined that childhood traumas both have a direct predictive effect on depression and the predictive effect of childhood traumas on depression increases via alexithymia. According to these results, it can be suggested that interventions aimed at improving emotional awareness and expression of emotions can make an important contribution in the therapeutic process in order to prevent the development of posttraumatic depression.