Mar 6, 2018 - Early Life Experiences Scale for Adolescents (ELES-A; Gilbert et al., 2003; Pinto-. Gouveia, Xavier, & Cunha, 2016) consists of 15 items and ...
26th European Congress of Psychiatry (EPA 2018), Nice, France 3-6 March 2018
NEGATIVE EMOTIONAL MEMORIES AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN ADOLESCENCE: CAN SELF-REASSURANCE PLAY A PROTECTIVE ROLE? Marina
1,2* Cunha ,
Ana
2 Xavier ,
& José Pinto
2 Gouveia
1Miguel
Torga Superior Institute, Coimbra, Portugal 2Cognitive and Behavioral Center for Research and Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Portugal INTRODUCTION
RESULTS
Consistent research have shown that early adverse experiences have a negative impact on mental health from childhood to adulthood. Indeed, early interactions with caregivers characterized by threat, devaluation and subordination are linked to several psychological difficulties. Memories of feeling rejected, threatened, subordinated, and devalued are some of the most powerful elicitors of stress responses and are linked to self-criticism and depression (Gilbert et al., 2003; Irons et al., 2006; Xavier et al., 2016). In contrast, memories of being valued, cared for and supported by parents are regulators of physiological and emotional systems and are associated with the ability to self-reassure (Richter, Gilbert, & McEwan, 2009).
1. Gender differences for Early Life Experiences (ELES), Reassured Self (FSCRS) and Depressive symptoms (DASS)
OBJECTIVES This study aims to test whether the impact of early negative memories (characterized by threat, subordination and devaluation) on depressive symptoms is moderated by self-reassuring abilities.
METHOD Participants The sample consists of 851 adolescents with ages between 12 and 18 years old (M = 14.90, SD = 1.79) from middle and secondary schools in Portugal.
Procedures This adolescents’ samples was collected from middle and secondary schools in center region of Portugal. Ethical and deontological requirements were followed. Confidentiality, voluntarily and anonymity were guaranteed.
Instruments Early Life Experiences Scale for Adolescents (ELES-A; Gilbert et al., 2003; PintoGouveia, Xavier, & Cunha, 2016) consists of 15 items and three subscales: (i) threat (6 items), which assess the recall of perceived threats in childhood; (ii) submissiveness (6 items), which taps feelings of subordination and submissive behaviours; and (iii) (un)valued (3 items, reversed), which include positive items about feeling equal and relaxed in the family. The scale can be used as a single construct or as three separate subscales. The participants answer by rating how frequently and how true each statement was for them in their childhood, according to a 5-point scale. In the current study only the ELES total score was used and its Cronbach alpha was .86. Forms of Self-criticizing and Self-reassuring Scale (FSCRS; Gilbert et al., 2004) is a 22item scale, which measures different ways people think and feel about themselves when things go wrong for them. This scale comprises three components, there are two forms of self-criticalness: inadequate self, which focuses on a sense of personal inadequacy (‘I am easily disappointed with myself’), and hated self, this measures the desire to hurt or persecute the self (‘I have become so angry with myself that I want to hurt or injury myself’), and one form to self-reassure, reassured self (‘I am able to remind myself of positive things about myself’). The responses are given on a 5-point Likert scale (0-4). In the present study only reassured self subscale was used and its Cronbach alpha was .87. Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21; Lovidond & Lovibond, 1995) is a 21item scale that assesses depression, anxiety and stress. Each item is rated on a 4 point scale (0-3), with higher scores representing high levels of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. Only Depression subscale was used (α = .90).
Total sample (N = 851) M (SD) 1.90 (0.64)
Males (n = 399) M (SD) 1.86 (0.61)
ELES Reassured Self 2.54 (0.84) 2.68 (0.81) (FSCRS) Depressive symptoms 0.61 (0.67) 0.49 (0.61) (DASS) Note. *p < .05. ** p < .01. ***p < .001.
Females (n = 452) M (SD) 1.94 (0.65)
t(df) -1.779 (849)
2.42 (0.85)
4.504 (849)***
0.72 (0.69)
-5.120 (848.999)***
2. Correlations Analysis Correlations between early life experiences of threat, subordination and devaluation (ELES), reassured self and depressive symptoms among adolescents (N = 851) Variables ELES Reassured Self ELES Reassured Self -.33 Depressive symptoms .41 -.48 Note. All correlation coefficients are statistically significant at p < .001.
3. Moderation Analysis A Moderation Analysis was performed through PROCESS macro for SPSS (Hayes, 2013) to test the moderator effect of reassured self in the relationship between early adverse experiences and depressive symptoms. Sex was introduced in the model as a covariate variable in order to control its potential confounding effect. Results from Moderation Analysis (cf. Figure 1) showed that the model accounted for 31% of the depressive symptoms variance.
ELES
.27***
Reassured self
-.30***
ELES x Reassured self
R2 = .31
Depressive symptoms
-.09** .13***
Gender Figure 1. Moderation Analysis. Note. *p < .05. ** p < .01. ***p < .001
Conditional Effect of ELES on Depressive symptoms at values of the Moderator Reassured self Value Effect se p LLCI Low -.84 .35 .04
