Personality Traits, Childhood Trauma, and Alexithymia role in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Post-Traumatic Growth Symptoms Following COVID-19

Mousavi Almaleki, Zeinab; Dolatshahi, Behrooz; RoshanChesli, Rasoul

doi:10.30491/tm.2024.432360.1676

Personality Traits, Childhood Trauma, and Alexithymia role in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Post-Traumatic Growth Symptoms Following COVID-19

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Zeinab Mousavi Almaleki ¹

Behrooz Dolatshahi ²

Rasoul RoshanChesli ³

¹ MSc in clinical psychology, Department of Psychology, Khatam University, Tehran, Iran.

² Associate professor of clinical psychology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

³ Professor of clinical psychology, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.

10.30491/tm.2024.432360.1676

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the role of personality traits, childhood trauma, and alexithymia in PTSD and PTG symptoms in patients with COVID-19.
Methods: Data for 156 persons (including 131 females and 25 males) who recovered from COVID-19 were collected using NEO inventories, the childhood trauma questionnaire, the Toronto alexithymia scale, the Mississippi Scale for PTSD, and the PTG inventory.
Results: PTG symptoms were significantly and positively associated with personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness). The PTSD symptoms were positively correlated with neuroticism and negatively associated with agreeableness and conscientiousness. Moreover, a negative correlation was observed between emotional neglect and PTG symptoms. PTSD symptoms were seen to be positively and significantly correlated to the four dimensions of childhood trauma (p < 0.001). Finally, the most significant predictors of PTSD were symptoms including alexithymia (β = 0.38) and the physical abuse trait of childhood trauma (β = 0.259). PTG symptoms could be best predicted by conscientiousness (β = 0.2) and extraversion traits (β = 0.196).
Conclusion: The variables including alexithymia, personality traits, and childhood trauma can be used to decrease the adverse effects of trauma and increase positive psychological symptoms in our patients.

Keywords

Post-Traumatic-Stress

Post-Traumatic-Growth

Personality Dimensions

Subjects