:: Volume 6, Issue 4 (Military Caring Sciences 2019) ::
MCS 2019, 6(4): 267-275 Back to browse issues page
The Role of Self-Compassion and Ego Strength on Secondary Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Wives of War Veterans
Leila Abdoulmaleki1 , Ahasan Amiri * 2, Saeedeh Sadat Hosseini3 , Borzoo Amirpor4 , Karim Afshariniya5
1- Ph.D. Student of Psychology, Psychology Department, Faculty of Humanities, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran.
2- Ph.D. in Psychology, Assistant Professor, Psychology Department, Faculty of Humanities, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran. Email: Ahasan.amiri@yahoo.com
3- Ph.D. in Psychology, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran.
4- Ph.D. in Psychology, Assistant Professor, Psychology Department, Faculty of Humanities, Payame-Noor University Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
5- Ph.D. in Consulting, Assistant Professor, Psychology Department, Faculty of Humanities, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran.
Abstract:   (4073 Views)
Introduction: Since the World Health Organization has introduced mental health something beyond the mere absence of mental illness, Researches increasingly focus on positive personality traits and individuals’ internal resources in the coping of psychological distress.
Objective: The present study was aimed to investigate the role of self-compassion
and ego strength on secondary post-traumatic stress disorder in wives of the war
veterans.
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive correlational study, our final sample consisted of 152 participants, who were the wives of war veterans with secondary post-traumatic stress disorder in Kermanshah province in 2019. The subjects were selected by purposive sampling method. To collect the data Reis et al.’s Self-Compassion Scale, psychological ego strength scale and Secondary Trauma Questionnaire (STQ) were used. Data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and simple linear Regression by SPSS 25.
Results: The results indicated that the mean score for variables was: secondary post-traumatic stress (63.43±10.55), Self-compassion (20.91±7.15) and ego strength (60.07 ± 10.69). Moreover, Both Self-compassion (r=-0.416, P<0.05) and ego strength (r=-0.278) had negative significant correlation with secondary posttraumatic stress disorder. Based on regression analysis, Self-compassion (β=-0.37) and ego strength (β=-0.20) were the negative significant predictors of secondary post-traumatic stress.
Discussion and Conclusion: Based on the findings of this research, reducing the level of positive personality traits, such as the self-compassion and ego strength as a source of coping in the secondary victims of trauma, the risk of their Psychopathology increases. It is suggested that the role of these factors in treating trauma and stressrelated disorders be considered.
 
Keywords: Compassion Fatigue, Ego, Post-Traumatic, Stress Disorders, Spouses, Veterans.
Full-Text [PDF 460 kb]   (1388 Downloads)    
Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2019/07/16 | Accepted: 2019/09/17 | Published: 2020/03/9
References
1. Frewen P, Zhu J, Lanius R. Lifetime traumatic stressors and adverse childhood experiences uniquely predict concurrent PTSD, complex PTSD, and dissociative subtype of PTSD symptoms whereas recent adult non-traumatic stressors do not: results from an online survey study. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2019;10(1):1606625. DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2019.1606625 PMID: 31105905
2. Brewin CR, Cloitre M, Hyland P, Shevlin M, Maercker A, Bryant RA, et al. A review of current evidence regarding the ICD-11 proposals for diagnosing PTSD and complex PTSD. Clin Psychol Rev. 2017;58:1-15. DOI: PMID: [DOI] [PubMed]
3. Tomich PL, Tolich A. Life is a balancing act: Deviation from a balanced time perspective mediates the relationship between lifetime trauma exposure and optimism. Current Psychology. 2019. [DOI]
4. Barbano AC, van der Mei WF, Bryant RA, Delahanty DL, deRoon-Cassini TA, Matsuoka YJ, et al. Clinical implications of the proposed ICD-11 PTSD diagnostic criteria. Psychol Med. 2019;49(3):483-90. [DOI] [PubMed]
5. Shevlin M, Hyland P, Roberts NP, Bisson JI, Brewin CR, Cloitre M. A psychometric assessment of Disturbances in Self-Organization symptom indicators for ICD-11 Complex PTSD using the International Trauma Questionnaire. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2018;9(1):1419749. [DOI] [PubMed]
6. Somma A, Maffei C, Borroni S, Gialdi G, Fossati A. Post Traumatic Reactions as Individual Differences: Latent Structure Analysis of the International Trauma Questionnaire in Italian Trauma-Exposed and Non-Trauma Exposed Adults. Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology. 2019;7(1). [DOI]
7. Gomez de La Cuesta G, Schweizer S, Diehle J, Young J, Meiser-Stedman R. The relationship between maladaptive appraisals and posttraumatic stress disorder: a meta-analysis. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2019;10(1):1620084. [DOI] [PubMed]
8. Miao XR, Chen QB, Wei K, Tao KM, Lu ZJ. Posttraumatic stress disorder: from diagnosis to prevention. Mil Med Res. 2018;5(1):32. [DOI] [PubMed]
9. Polak S, Bailey R, Bailey E. Secondary Traumatic Stress in the Courtroom: Suggestions for Preventing Vicarious Trauma Resulting from Child Sexual Abuse Imagery. Juvenile and Family Court Journal. 2019;70(2):69-75. [DOI]
10. Benuto LT, Singer J, Gonzalez F, Newlands R, Hooft S. Supporting Those Who Provide Support: Work-Related Resources and Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Victim Advocates. Saf Health Work. 2019;10(3):336-40. [DOI] [PubMed]
11. Owens-King AP. Secondary traumatic stress and self-care inextricably linked. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment. 2019;29(1):37-47. [DOI]
12. Lahav Y, Renshaw KD, Solomon Z. Domestic Abuse and Forgiveness among Military Spouses. J Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma. 2018;28(2):243-60. [DOI]
13. Wollast R, Riemer AR, Bernard P, Leys C, Kotsou I, Klein O. How self-compassion moderates the effect of body surveillance on subjective happiness and depression among women. Scand J Psychol. 2019;60(5):464-72. [DOI] [PubMed]
14. Voci A, Veneziani CA, Fuochi G. Relating Mindfulness, Heartfulness, and Psychological Well-Being: the Role of Self-Compassion and Gratitude. Mindfulness. 2018;10(2):339-51. [DOI]
15. Wong CCY, Knee CR, Neighbors C, Zvolensky MJ. Hacking Stigma by Loving Yourself: a Mediated-Moderation Model of Self-Compassion and Stigma. Mindfulness. 2018;10(3):415-33. [DOI]
16. Lathren C, Bluth K, Park J. Adolescent self-compassion moderates the relationship between perceived stress and internalizing symptoms. Personality and Individual Differences. 2019;143:36-41. [DOI]
17. Boykin DM, Himmerich SJ, Pinciotti CM, Miller LM, Miron LR, Orcutt HK. Barriers to self-compassion for female survivors of childhood maltreatment: The roles of fear of self-compassion and psychological inflexibility. Child Abuse Negl. 2018;76:216-24. [DOI] [PubMed]
18. Pires FBC, Lacerda SS, Balardin JB, Portes B, Tobo PR, Barrichello CRC, et al. Self-compassion is associated with less stress and depression and greater attention and brain response to affective stimuli in women managers. BMC Womens Health. 2018;18(1):195. [DOI] [PubMed]
19. Yarnell LM, Neff KD, Davidson OA, Mullarkey M. Gender Differences in Self-Compassion: Examining the Role of Gender Role Orientation. Mindfulness. 2018;10(6):1136-52. [DOI]
20. Busch FN, Milrod BL. Trauma-Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2018;41(2):277-87. [DOI] [PubMed]
21. Busch FN, Nehrig N, Milrod B. Trauma-Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy of a Patient With PTSD in a Veterans Affairs Setting. Am J Psychother. 2019;72(1):24-8. [DOI] [PubMed]
22. Hayashi H, Takei Y, Fujimori A, Takeuchi I, Hono T. Differences in Ego Functions between Those with Tendency to Atypical Depression and Those with Tendency to Melancholic Depression. Psychology. 2017;08(11):1657-68. [DOI]
23. Cyranka K, Rutkowski K, Mielimaka M, Sobanski JA, Klasa K, Muldner-Nieckowski L, et al. Changes in ego strength in patients with neurotic and personality disorders treated with a short-term comprehensive psychodynamic psychotherapy. Psychiatr Pol. 2018;52(1):115-27. [DOI] [PubMed]
24. Delaware A. Research methods in psychology and educational sciences. Tehran: Virayesh; 2016.
25. Rezapour Mirsaleh Y, Ahmadi K. Psychometric Characteristics of Secondary Trauma Questionnaire (STQ) in Warfare. Iranian J Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology. 2017;23(3):348-61. DOI: 10.29252/nirp.ijpcp.23.3.348 [DOI]
26. Shahbazi MR, Moghami E, Jelodari A. Confirmatory factor analysis of the Persian version of the Self-compassion rating scale-revised. J Psychol Models Methods. 2015;6(19):31-96.
27. Farhadi M, Yarmohamadi Vasel M, Zoghi Paidar M, Chegini A. The Efficacy of Hypnotherapy Based on Ego Strengthening on Treatment of Major Depression in Female‐Headed Households. Journal of Psychological Achievements. 2017;24(1):63-78.
28. Seligowski AV, Miron LR, Orcutt HK. Relations Among Self-Compassion, PTSD Symptoms, and Psychological Health in a Trauma-Exposed Sample. Mindfulness. 2014;6(5):1033-41. DOI: 10.1007/s12671-014-0351-x [DOI]
29. Hoffart A, Oktedalen T, Langkaas TF. Self-compassion influences PTSD symptoms in the process of change in trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapies: a study of within-person processes. Front Psychol. 2015;6:1273. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01273 PMID: 26379596 [DOI] [PubMed]
30. Scoglio AAJ, Rudat DA, Garvert D, Jarmolowski M, Jackson C, Herman JL. Self-Compassion and Responses to Trauma: The Role of Emotion Regulation. J Interpers Violence. 2018;33(13):2016-36. [DOI] [PubMed]
31. Lang AJ, Malaktaris AL, Casmar P, Baca SA, Golshan S, Harrison T, et al. Compassion Meditation for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans: A Randomized Proof of Concept Study. J Trauma Stress. 2019;32(2):299-309. [DOI] [PubMed]
32. Bluth K, Neff KD. New frontiers in understanding the benefits of self-compassion. Self and Identity. 2018;17(6):605-8. DOI: 10.1080/15298868.2018.1508494 [DOI]
33. Jacobson EHK, Wilson KG, Solomon Kurz A, Kellum KK. Examining self-compassion in romantic relationships. J Contextual Behav Scie. 2018;8:69-73. [DOI]
34. Murfield J, Moyle W, Jones C, O'Donovan A. Self-Compassion, Health Outcomes, and Family Carers of Older Adults: An Integrative Review. Clin Gerontol. 2019:1-14. [DOI] [PubMed]
35. Ferrari M, Hunt C, Harrysunker A, Abbott MJ, Beath AP, Einstein DA. Self-Compassion Interventions and Psychosocial Outcomes: a Meta-Analysis of RCTs. Mindfulness. 2019;10(8):1455-73. [DOI]
36. Inwood E, Ferrari M. Mechanisms of Change in the Relationship between Self-Compassion, Emotion Regulation, and Mental Health: A Systematic Review. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2018;10(2):215-35. DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12127 PMID: 29673093 [DOI] [PubMed]
37. Di Giuseppe M, Ciacchini R, Piarulli A, Nepa G, Conversano C. Mindfulness dispositions and defense style as positive responses to psychological distress in oncology professionals. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2019;40:104-10. [DOI] [PubMed]
38. Durmaz YC, Unsal G. Study of validity, reliability in accordance with Turkey conditions in ego functions assessment scale. Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2019;55(3):509-16. [DOI] [PubMed]



XML   Persian Abstract   Print



Rights and permissions
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Volume 6, Issue 4 (Military Caring Sciences 2019) Back to browse issues page