نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
نویسندگان
1 استاد تمام روانشناسی، گروه روانشناسی، دانشگاه تبریز، تبریز، ایران.
2 کارشناس ارشد روانشناسی، گروه روانشناسی، دانشگاه تبریز، تبریز، ایران.
3 دانشآموخته دکتری تخصصی روانشناسی، گروه روانشناسی، دانشگاه شهید چمران اهواز، اهواز، ایران.
4 استاد گروه روان شناسی، دانشکده روان شناسی، دانشگاه کور، ایتالیا، سیسل.
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
Introduction: Romantic grief is a common phenomenon that can result in various consequences for individuals, one of the most significant being feelings of loneliness. This study aims to explore the relationship between childhood trauma and feelings of loneliness in individuals experiencing grief from romantic breakups, while also examining the mediating roles of interpersonal attachment styles and ambivalence regarding emotional expression.
Method: This study employs a descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional research design. To meet the research objectives, a sample of 800 individuals was selected from the student population of Tabriz University using convenience sampling. Among these participants, 219 individuals who exhibited romantic break-up grief scores exceeding one standard deviation above the mean were identified as the primary sample for the study. The research instruments utilized in this study included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Revised Adult Attachment Scale, the Ambivalence over Emotional Expression Questionnaire, and the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults. Data analysis was performed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).
Results: The findings of the study suggest that childhood trauma, as hypothesized in the model, does not directly account for differences in feelings of loneliness. Instead, it can clarify these variations through mediating factors such as attachment styles and ambivalence towards emotional expression. Additionally, the results indicate that the proposed model demonstrates a good fit.
Discussion and conclusion: The findings suggest that childhood trauma significantly contributes to the development of mental health issues, particularly feelings of loneliness in adulthood. The adverse effects of trauma experienced during the first five years of life can negatively impact an individual's mental well-being by influencing the formation of attachment styles and the expression of emotions.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Romantic grief refers to the emotional turmoil experienced by individuals following the end of a significant romantic relationship, often resulting in feelings similar to those associated with the loss of a loved one [1]. This phenomenon can have detrimental effects on a person's overall health. One consequence of romantic bereavement is the experience of loneliness [3, 4]. Loneliness is an unpleasant emotional state that arises from a deficiency in both the quantity and quality of one's social relationships, as well as a lack of access to close and supportive connections with others [5]. Various factors can influence the experience of loneliness, one of which is childhood trauma [15, 16]. Psychological trauma is a distressing and uncontrollable response that occurs following extremely stressful events that threaten an individual's sense of security [17]. Several studies have demonstrated a relationship between childhood trauma and loneliness in adulthood; however, fewer studies have explored the mediating variables that influence this connection [15,16,19-21]. Among the variables that may mediate the relationship between trauma and feelings of loneliness are attachment styles and ambivalence in emotional expression. Despite the fundamental importance of loneliness in individuals experiencing romantic grief, the factors contributing to loneliness in this population have not been clearly defined in previous research. Furthermore, there is a lack of studies examining the roles of attachment styles and ambivalence in emotional expression in the relationship between trauma and loneliness. The current study seeks to explore the relationship between childhood trauma and feelings of loneliness in individuals experiencing grief due to romantic break-ups, with the mediating roles of interpersonal attachment styles and ambivalence over emotional expression.
Method
The present study employs a descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional research design. To achieve the research objectives, a sample of 800 individuals was selected from the student population of Tabriz University using convenience sampling. Among these participants, 219 individuals who exhibited romantic break-up grief scores exceeding one standard deviation above the mean were identified as the primary sample for the study. The criteria for participating in the research included being a student aged between 18 and 40 years, having a romantic bereavement score that was one standard deviation above the average, and undergoing a brief interview with a clinical psychologist to confirm the experience of romantic grief. The exclusion criteria also included a history of psychotic disorders and the presence of chronic physical illnesses. After selecting the topic and outlining the research objectives, the researchers obtained the participants' cooperation. They provided a written consent form at the beginning of the questionnaire and received both written and verbal consent from the participants. Then, the questionnaires were distributed among the participants. The research instruments utilized in this study included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Revised Adult Attachment Scale, the Ambivalence over Emotional Expression Questionnaire, and the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults. Data analysis was conducted using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). SPSS version 26 and SMARTPLS version 3 statistical software were utilized to classify, process, and analyze the data, as well as to examine the research hypotheses.
Results
The average age of the participants in this study was 25.79 years, with a standard deviation of 5.76 years. In order to assess the fit of the proposed model with the data, fit indices were utilized. The values of these indicators are presented in Table 1.
The contents of Table 1 indicate that the proposed model demonstrates a relatively good fit with the data, as nearly all the indicators fall within an acceptable range. Therefore, it can be inferred that trauma significantly influences changes in feelings of loneliness through attachment styles and ambivalence over emotional expression. Additionally, the standardized coefficients for both direct and indirect paths between the research variables are presented in Tables 2 and 3, respectively.
Table 1. Fit indices calculated in the
research model
Desirable level
Index value
Model fit index
Not meaningful
195.668
X2
Less than 3
1.61
X2/df
greater than 0.9
0.95
CFI
greater than 0.9
0.94
GFI
Less than 0.08
0.056
RMSEA
Tables 2. Direct standardized coefficients
Variable
Standard coefficients
Standard error
t
p
Trauma-> feelings of loneliness
0.103
0.093
1.099
0.273
Trauma-> Avoidant attachment
0.351
0.051
6.845
0.0001
Trauma-> Secure attachment
-0.453
0.049
9.309
0.0001
Trauma-> ambivalent attachment
0.369
0.058
6.379
0.0001
Trauma-> Ambivalence over Emotional Expression
0.229
0.059
3.901
0.0001
Avoidant attachment-> feelings of loneliness
0.154
0.063
2.446
0.015
Secure attachment-> feelings of loneliness
-0.277
0.069
3.998
0.0001
Ambivalent attachment-> feelings of loneliness
0.158
0.069
2.285
0.023
Ambivalence over Emotional Expression-> feelings of loneliness
0.181
0.050
3.596
0.0001
Tables 3. Indirect standardized coefficients
Variable
Standard coefficients
Standard error
t
p
Trauma-> Avoidant attachment-> feelings of loneliness
0.054
0.022
2.452
0.015
Trauma-> Secure attachment-> feelings of loneliness
0.125
0.035
3.537
0.0001
Trauma-> ambivalent attachment-> feelings of loneliness
0.058
0.029
2.000
0.046
Trauma-> Ambivalence over Emotional Expression-> feelings of loneliness
0.041
0.016
2.648
0.008
Based on the contents of Tables 2 and 3, it can be said that childhood trauma, as hypothesized in the model, does not directly explain differences in feelings of loneliness. Rather, it can elucidate these variances through mediating attachment styles and ambivalence towards emotional expression.
Conclusion
The present study aimed to investigate the structural patterns of loneliness associated with trauma in individuals experiencing grief from romantic breakups, focusing on the mediating roles of interpersonal attachment styles and ambivalence over emotional expression. The structural equation modeling analysis revealed that childhood trauma does not significantly affect feelings of loneliness. This finding contradicts the results of previous research.
Several studies have demonstrated that childhood trauma can predict loneliness in adulthood; however, this correlation was not supported by the findings of the present study. The results of the current research indicate that all attachment styles play a significant mediating role in the relationship between trauma and loneliness. This finding suggests that childhood trauma may hinder an individual's ability to develop a secure attachment style, which, in turn, contributes to feelings of loneliness.
In fact, it can be concluded that childhood trauma contributes to the development of an insecure attachment style in children. This insecure attachment can subsequently impact their future romantic and friendship relationships, making it challenging for them to establish secure connections. Consequently, individuals with insecure attachment may experience feelings of loneliness.
The research findings indicate that ambivalence regarding emotional expression may serve as a significant mediating factor in the relationship between trauma and feelings of loneliness. This result can be explained by the notion that childhood trauma leads individuals to develop two biases in expressing their emotions, which, in turn, contribute to an increased experience of loneliness.
In general, the research findings indicate that trauma can significantly influence feelings of loneliness in individuals experiencing romantic bereavement, particularly through the lens of attachment styles and ambivalence in emotional expression. Consequently, mental health professionals working with individuals who have experienced romantic bereavement should prioritize therapeutic interventions that address both attachment styles and emotional expression in their treatment of loneliness.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with Ethical Guidelines: All principles of research ethics have been upheld in this study, including obtaining informed consent from participants, ensuring the confidentiality of information and granting the right to withdraw from the research. Before conducting the research, the research ethics code (IR.TABRIZU.REC.1400.006) was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the University of Tabriz.
Funding: This research is not sponsored by any institution and all costs have been borne by the authors.
Authors’ Contribution: Author 1 was responsible for overseeing the entire research process. Author 2 was responsible for research plan design and data collection. Author 3 was responsible for data analysis, submission and correction. Also, all authors discussed the results and reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict of Interest: The authors declare there is no conflict of interest in this article.
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