Comparison between experiencing different types of traumas and their relationship to emotional regulation in young adults in Iceland

• Main Author: Helga Guðmundsdóttir 1998-
• Other Authors: Háskólinn í Reykjavík
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Sálfræði; Psychology; Tilfinningar; Sálræn áföll; Áfengissýki; Ástvinamissir; Psychic trauma; Emotions; Alcoholism; Bereavement; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/42038

Samþykki var fengið frá vísindasiðanefnd In the last decade, attention to the construct of emotional regulation has increased regarding its preventive and strengthening effects on maladaptive behaviors and mental disorders. Available research has revealed a trauma-related deficit in automatic regulation amongst individuals. Additionally, research has repeatedly shown that complex trauma, such as domestic alcohol abuse and violence, has strong negative impact on emotional regulation. However, less is known about the effect of bereavement in this respect. The following study aimed to assess the relationship between abilities of emotional regulation and whether it was trauma-type dependent. Furthermore, it was explored if emotional regulation was affected differently with regards to participants who attended therapy. A survey questionnaire was administered in classrooms to a total of 105 participants in diverse fields of study, within two universities and one high school. The questionnaire contained a Negative Life Event Scale, questions regarding mental health therapies, and the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale (DERs). Results of the study showed that the relationship between bereavement and DERs was not significant while complex trauma was significantly related to emotional dysregulation. Additionally, mental health therapies did not buffer the negative impact of experiencing domestic alcohol abuse on difficulties with emotional regulation. Keywords: emotional regulation, trauma, complex trauma, bereavement, alcoholism. Síðastliðinn áratug hefur áhugi á hugsmíðinni tilfinningastjórnun aukist, einkum með tilliti til fyrirbyggjandi og styrkjandi áhrifa hennar innan skilgreindar óæskilegrar hegðunar og geðrænna sjúkdóma. Fyrirliggjandi rannsóknir hafa sýnt að einstaklingar sem hafa upplifað áföll sýna skort á tilfinningastjórnun, það er aukna næmni gagnvart tilfinningalegum átökum. Að auki hafa rannsóknir ítrekað sýnt að flókið áfall (e. complex trauma), eins og alkóhólismi á heimili og ofbeldi, sýnir ...