Perez Lauren A, Szabo Yvette Z
California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Dr, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA.
BMC Psychol. 2025 Mar 26;13(1):301. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-02504-7.
This study extends previous research examining the interplay between trauma and somatic symptoms by focusing on trauma type (i.e., whether the trauma was interpersonal in nature [e.g., assault, sexual violence, combat] or not) and the extent to which psychological distress accounts for these associations. Additionally, we novelly focus on clusters of somatic symptoms.
A sample of predominantly Hispanic/Latinx young adults (n = 214) completed a series of brief validated questionnaires assessing demographics, stressful life events (Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire - revised), somatic symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire - 14), and psychological distress (Patient Health Questionnaire - 4) as part of an online survey. Data were first analyzed using linear regression, followed by structural equation modeling to estimate indirect effects, with bootstrapping used to generate confidence intervals.
Results support a significant indirect effect of interpersonal trauma (IP) on somatic symptoms through psychological distress. While both IP and psychological distress contributed to cardiopulmonary and pain/fatigue clusters, gastrointestinal symptoms were accounted for by psychological distress. Exploratory analyses revealed unique associations by gender, with partial mediation of associations between IP and somatic symptoms by psychological distress observed more clearly in women.
The present study extends extant research demonstrating that greater exposure to interpersonal trauma exposure is significantly and strongly associated with increased somatic symptoms, psychological distress partially accounts for these associations. With replication, these findings inform theoretical frameworks of the psychological underpinnings of somatic symptom development and can be used to foster advancements in patient care.
本研究通过关注创伤类型（即创伤是否具有人际性质[例如袭击、性暴力、战斗]）以及心理困扰在这些关联中所占的程度，扩展了先前关于创伤与躯体症状之间相互作用的研究。此外，我们新颖地关注了躯体症状群。
作为在线调查的一部分，以西班牙裔/拉丁裔年轻人为主的样本（n = 214）完成了一系列经过验证的简短问卷，评估人口统计学、应激性生活事件（修订版应激性生活事件筛查问卷）、躯体症状（患者健康问卷 - 14）和心理困扰（患者健康问卷 - 4）。数据首先使用线性回归进行分析，然后进行结构方程建模以估计间接效应，并使用自抽样法生成置信区间。
结果支持人际创伤（IP）通过心理困扰对躯体症状产生显著的间接影响。虽然人际创伤和心理困扰都导致了心肺症状群和疼痛/疲劳症状群，但胃肠道症状由心理困扰导致。探索性分析揭示了按性别划分的独特关联，在女性中观察到心理困扰对人际创伤与躯体症状之间关联的部分中介作用更为明显。
本研究扩展了现有研究，表明更多地暴露于人际创伤与躯体症状增加显著且强烈相关，心理困扰部分解释了这些关联。通过重复研究，这些发现为躯体症状发展的心理基础理论框架提供了信息，并可用于促进患者护理方面的进步。
