ABSTRACT
This study investigated variables assumed to influence the symptom perception process, as well as the sociodemographic variables of age, gender and socioeconomic status, regarding their relation to common physical symptoms. In addition, it ascertained the predictors of two symptom measurement methods (prospective and retrospective). A group of 152 men and women completed a standardized interview as well as several questionnaires and kept a diary for 4 weeks. Path analyses showed an adequate data fit irrespective of symptom measure. Two main routes to both prospectively and retrospectively measured physical symptoms were found: one from more negative affectivity via a stronger tendency to selective attention and the other from unemployment or a higher number of chronic diseases via a lower quantity of external information. The effect of age on physical symptoms was mediated by the number of chronic diseases and the tendency to selectively attend to bodily sensations. The effects on physical symptoms proved to depend partly on the method of symptom measurement and varied according to the mediating role of negative mood and the tendency to make psychological attributions. Overall, this study highlights the importance of estimating the independent contribution of variables to the experience of common physical symptoms in a comprehensive model while taking into account the method of symptom measurement. In addition, it demonstrates the usefulness of a symptom perception approach for further study.
Subject(s)
Health Status , Models, Psychological , Perception , Psychophysiologic Disorders/psychology , Self Concept , Somatoform Disorders/physiopathology , Adult , Affect , Age Factors , Chronic Disease/psychology , Demography , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychophysiologic Disorders/physiopathology , Sex Factors , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Traumatic events may result in a variety of physical and psychological health problems. Self-confrontation with traumatic memories, by putting painful emotions and thoughts into (verbal) words, is associated with psychophysiological benefits. Self-confrontation may be invoked during sessions and enhanced by structural assignments, which the client carries out between the sessions. In this context, writing assignments could be a useful tool in reprocessing traumatic events. The effects of writing assignments have been demonstrated in several case studies and in a number of experimental studies. However, the experimental studies have several limitations, for example the effects of writing on the impact of trauma are not examined. Furthermore, the psychological mechanisms that mediate the effects of trauma on health are less clear. These two issues are the main issues of the current study. METHODS: A group of 26 participants were instructed to write about their negative events during five 45-min sessions over a period of 2 weeks. They were compared at pre-treatment, post-treatment and at 6-week follow-up to a waiting-list control group (n = 22). RESULTS: The trauma-writing groups experienced fewer intrusions and showed less avoidance behavior from pre-treatment to follow-up, whereas the waiting-list control group did not change significantly. Similar results were found on depressive symptoms. No effects on mood measures were found. CONCLUSIONS: Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.
