Theses supervised by Doç. Dr. Tuğba Uzer Yıldız
11 theses · TED University
Transgenerational transmission of trauma: investigating cognitive, emotional and behavioral forms of transmission among Marmara Earthquake survivors
The present study examined transgenerational transmission of trauma over 1999 Marmara Earthquake on children of survivors in terms of metacognitive, emotional and behavioral aspects. Transmission was inferred by looking at two things. First, whether parental earthquake-related memories were transmitted to the next generation was investigated. To do that, to what extent severity of parental exposure to earthquake was related to the child's inclusion of earthquake memory into his/her biographical knowledge about the parent was measured. Second, whether parental trauma was transmitted to the next generation via some metacognitive, emotional and behavioral outcomes was examined. Participants were assigned to trauma and comparison group based on whether their parents directly experienced the 1999 Earthquake in Kocaeli (Gölcük, İzmit, Karamürsel, Derince) or not. When adolescences were asked to recall 10 most important events from their parent's life, 65.6% of trauma group and 5.5% of comparison group included 1999 Marmara Earthquake events. However, trauma and comparison group children did not significantly differ from each other on metacognition, emotion regulation, internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. These results indicated that although earthquake related traumatic experiences were transmitted to the next generations through memories, negative impacts of these experiences did not reveal about themselves via next generations' metacognitive emotional and behavioral problems as measured by quantitative scales.
The relationship between attachment and motivated forgetting: Investigating the effects of attachment style and mental representations of attachment figures on the directed forgetting of autobiographical memories
Previous research focused on how attachment security is related to regulating emotions after a stressful event has already occurred. But, the role of attachment on antecedent emotion regulation strategies is not clear. Research on autobiographical memory and emotion regulation suggest that remembering memories can be used to regulate emotions in an antecedent manner. In the present study, for the first time, the relationship between attachment and emotion regulation was investigated by looking at whether imagining a secure attachment figure would help to inhibit negative memories. First, the participants were grouped as secure and insecure based on their attachment scores. Next, participants were asked to imagine their attachment figures, friends or acquaintances according to the experimental condition that they were randomly assigned to. Immediately after the mental activation task, participants were provided with two lists which consisted of equal number of positive and negative words. Participants had to remember a specific autobiographical memory for each word. Half of the participants (forget group) in each mental activation group were instructed to forget list 1 memories and remember list 2 memories. Remaining were asked to recall all memories (remember group). All participants were asked to remember all memories in the final recall. The results demonstrated that mental activation did not have any significant effect on inhibiting positive and negative memories. But, the attachment style significantly moderated the relationship between directed forgetting and memory recall. Particularly, insecurely attached participants were able to inhibit their positive memories, while securely attached ones were not. Furthermore, negative memories were not inhibited regardless of attachment style. These results suggest that insecure attachment down-regulates one's mood by facilitating the inhibition of positive memories. Keywords: Attachment, Emotion Regulation, Intentional Forgetting
Age differences in remembering mixed emotional experiences
In many cases, we experience different kinds of mixed emotions, but the concepts related to those experiences are still being studied. The present study examined the phenomenological differences between discrete emotional and mixed emotional experiences among different age groups. Forty-one adolescents between ages 18 and 22, thirty-seven adults in midlife between ages 40 and 44, and thirty-one people older than age 65 were participated in the study. Participants were briefly explained their mixed emotional (e.g. happiness& sadness, anger&compassion) and discrete emotional (e.g. happiness, anger, compassion and sadness) experiences and responded to Autobiographical Memory Characteristics Questionnaire for each. Results suggest that discrete emotional experiences are remembered better than mixed emotional experinces. Relatedly, inhibiting mixed emotion is easier than inhibiting single emotion. According to age, older adults inhibit their emotions easier than younger age groups. Middle adults inhibit bittersweat emotions better than adolescents and older people. The findings were discussed in relation to emotion and aging literature.
Investigating the effects of parental psychological control, perceived parental warmth and strict control/supervision on emotional abuse in romantic relationships
The present study investigated the effects of parental psychological control, parental warmth and parental strict control/supervision on emotional abuse victimization in romantic relationships. Two hundred thirty university students, who have ever had a romantic relationship for at least six months, filled out Psychological Control Scale (PCS), Parenting Styles Questionnaire (PSQ), Earlier Abuse Experience Information Form (EAEIF) and Emotional Abuse Questionnaire (EAQ). Moderation analysis indicated that three-way interaction between parental psychological control, warmth and strict control on emotional abuse was significant. More specifically, parental psychological control predicted emotional abuse victimization when parental warmth was both moderate and high, but when strict control/supervision was low. The findings indicate that parental warmth exacerbates the negative effects of psychological control on emotional abuse victimization in romantic relationships of late adolescents only when parents do not provide enough behavioral control and monitoring for inappropriate behaviors during childhood. The present study significantly contributed to our understanding of how perceived childhood experiences of parental psychological control and parental attitudes are transferred to late adolescence, and therefore affect adolescents' current experiences of emotional abuse in their romantic relationships. Keywords: Psychological Control, Parental Warmth, Strict Control/Supervision, Emotional Abuse
Investigating the roles of adverse childhood experiences and father involvement on the transmission of early maladaptive schemas
Schema Theory (Young, 1990) assumes that early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) are formed due to unsatisfied core emotional needs in childhood. Surprisingly, there is limited research about the association between parent's EMS and child's EMS. The current study investigated the mechanisms underlying the relationship between the parent's disconnection and rejection schemas and the child's disconnection and rejection schemas. 179 mother-late adolescent dyads participated to the study. 179 late adolescents completed Young Schema Questionnaire- Short Form-3 (YSQ-SF3), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Father Involvement Scale, and Resilience Scale and their mothers completed only YSQ-SF3. The results demonstrated that mothers' EMSs related to disconnection and rejection schema domain significantly predicted their children's EMSs related to the same domain. Adverse childhood experiences also significantly mediated this relationship only when father involvement was low. The current study provides evidence that EMSs are passed on from one generation to the next through adverse childhood experiences especially when fathers do not provide enough support in child rearing. Keywords: Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS), Adverse Childhood Experiences, Father Involvement, Schema Transmission
Mükemmeliyetçi ergenlerde akademik ruminasyonun hedef yönelimleri üzerindeki etkisi
This study aimed to show that academic rumination is an important risk factor for the quality of achievement goal orientations, especially in Socially- Prescribed Perfectionist (SPP) late adolescents. SPP personality trait and academic rumination are risk factors for the quality of achievement goal orientations. Surprisingly, there is no research investigating the effect of academic rumination on achievement goal orientations in SPP adolescents. The present research had two studies. In the Study I, 420 late adolescents completed the Hewitt & Flett's Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS-HF), Achievement Goal Orientation Questionnaire (AGOQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The purpose of this study is to test the factor features of the MPS-HF and AGOQ and to determine the participants who meet the SPP criteria. In the Study II, 32 late adolescents who have SPP and 32 late adolescents who have not SPP (i.e., non- SPP) trait were induced academic rumination. Their achievement goal orientation sub- type levels were measured at the pre-rumination and post-rumination induction stages. The results demonstrated that the academic rumination had no significant effect on any achievement goal orientation sub-type. Also, the academic rumination had no significant higher effect on any achievement goal orientation sub- type of SPP group than non- SPP group. In discussion section, developments that can be made in the content of academic rumination task are suggested for future studies. In addition, it was thought that the importance of the academic failure memory for the individual should be take into consideration. Keywords: Multidimensional Perfectionism, Socially- Prescribed Perfectionism, Academic Rumination, Achievement Goal Orientations
Reminiscence functions and their relation to post-traumatic cognitions and well-being in young adults with chronic diseases
This study aimed to show that reminiscence functions are an important factor for the post-traumatic growth and psychological well-being in young adults with chronic illnesses. Though, there is various researches investigating the effect of reminiscence functions on psychological well-being, surprisingly there is no research investigating the effect of reminiscence functions on post-traumatic growth in sample who are young adults with chronic illnesses. The present research had two studies. In the Study I, Reminiscence Functions Scale (RFS) (Webster, 1993) was adapted. 420 participants who are 18-39 years of age completed RFS, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire (RTSQ), and Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS) for adaptation process. The confirmatory factor analysis results present a factorial structure comprising seven factors which are reflective, death preparation, intimacy maintenance, boredom reduction, bitterness revival, teach/inform, and conversation and adequate reliability scores (from 0.83 to 0.91). In the study II, 65 young adults who are 18-25 years of age with chronic illness completed RFS, Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale (HADS), and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). The results showed that reflective function has significant effect on post-traumatic growth, death preparation and teach/inform have significant effect on anxiety, and teach/inform and intimacy maintenance have significant effect on depression. The current study provides a rich base of information for ways to further enhance the therapeutic power of reminiscence-based intervention for young adult patients who have chronic illness.
The influence of autobiographical memory specificity on goal setting in non-depressed individuals
Previous research demonstrated that over-generalization is a tendency depressed individuals have, and it also translates to both autobiographical memories (aka over-general memory-OGM) and personal future goals, resulting in general autobiographical memory and goal construction. Following research also asserted that past and future episodic memories are highly interlinked and influenced by each other, however, the direction of it was not clear and the literature only consists of depressed samples. In this study, it was investigated whether OGM leads to setting general approach or avoidance goals in non-depressed individuals. The participants were randomly assigned to one of these four groups: specific-success, specific-failure, general-success, and general-failure. In specific-success condition, participants were asked to retrieve specific autobiographical memories related to the word success. In specific-failure condition, participants were required to retrieve specific autobiographical memories related to the word failure. In general-success and general-failure conditions, participants were instructed to retrieve a general autobiographical memory according to the cue word they were presented. Next, the participants followed the study with a goal task which required them to write their approach and avoidance goals. The results showed that OGM did not lead to general goal setting in non-depressed participants. These results imply that the relationship between OGM and reduced goal specificity might be peculiar to depressive state.
Investigating the effects of sensory processing sensitivity, negative affectivity and conflict resolution styles on relationship satisfaction
Duyusal İşlemleme Hassasiyeti (DİH) ve kişiler arası ilişkiler arasındaki bağlantıları inceleyen çok az çalışma vardır ve bu çalışmalardan hiçbiri romantik ilişki tatminini içermemektedir. Bu çalışma, romantik ilişkiler bağlamında DİH'in bir risk faktörü mü yoksa bir ayırıcı yatkınlık etkeni mi olduğunu belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır. En azından 24 aydır devam etmekte olan romantik bir ilişki içerisinde olan ve evli olmayan iki yüz altı üniversite öğrencisi Duyusal İşleme Hassasiyeti Ölçeği (DİH), Yenilenmiş Çift Uyum Ölçeği (YÇUÖ), Çatışma Çözüm Stilleri Ölçeği (ÇÇSÖ), Pozitif ve Negatif Duygu Ölçeği (PANAS) ve Riskli Aileler Ölçeği'ni doldurmuştur (RAÖ). Çoklu Aracı Analizi sonuçları, negatif duygulanım ve negatif çatışma çözüm stilinin DİH ile romantik ilişki doyumu arasındaki ilişkide anlamlı bir şekilde aracı değişken (mediator) olduklarını göstermiştir. Yönetici Aracı Analizi (Moderated Mediation) sonuçları, DİH ile çocukluk çevresi arasındaki iki yönlü etkileşimin negatif duygulanım ve negatif çatışma çözüm stili üzerindeki etkisinin anlamlı olmadığını göstermiştir. Bu bulgulara göre DİH, olumsuz psikolojik semptomlar geliştirmede çocukluk çevresinden öte tek başına bağımsız bir risk faktörüdür. Son olarak, negatif duygulanım ve negatif çatışma çözüm stili kontrol edildikten sonra DİH ile romantik ilişki tatmini arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamsız fakat pozitif yönlü bir ilişki olduğu gözlenmiştir. Bu bulgu, araştırmada yer alan aracı değişkenlerin Hayli Duyarlı Kişiler'in (HDK) romantik ilişki tatminini düşüren temel bileşenler olduğuna işaret etmektedir. Bu çalışma HDK'leri HDK olmayanlardan ilişki tatmini açısından farklılaştıran, DİH ile romantik ilişki tatmini arasında yer alan mekanizmaları göstererek literatürdeki bu boşluğa anlamlı olarak katkıda bulunmuştur.
Understanding the processes underlying the intergenerational transmission of anxiety
The previous findings revealed that having a parent who suffers from a high level of anxiety is a serious risk factor for anxiety-related disorder during young adulthood. This is an example of intergenerational transmission of anxiety. Both genetic and environmental factors have significant roles in this transmission. The present study aimed to investigate the processes underlying the intergenerational transmission of anxiety; especially by focusing on parenting styles and self-construal. First, whether certain parenting styles (i.e., overprotection, worrying parenting, perfectionistic parenting, and punitive parenting) would mediate the relationship between maternal and young adult anxiety were investigated. Furthermore, whether one's self-construal (i.e., level of autonomous-related self) would be a protective factor in this transmission was tested. 140 dyads of mothers and young adults participated in the online survey. Young adults filled out The State-Trait Anxiety Scale, Young Parenting Inventory, and The Autonomous-Related Self Scale. Then, mothers filled out only The State-Trait Anxiety Scale via the link which was sent to their e-mail addresses. Moderated-mediation analyses demonstrated that overprotection, worrying parenting, perfectionistic parenting, and punitive parenting all mediated the link between parental anxiety and young adults' anxiety. However, self-construal did not moderate this mediation. The results were discussed concerning family systems and self-construal perspectives.
From narrative coherence to psychological and social well-being: The moderator role of autonomous-related self
The current study investigated the moderator role of self-construals in the relationship between narrative coherence and psychological and social well-being. 191 emerging adults between the ages of 18-25 participated to the study. Narrative Writing Task, Autonomous-Related Self Scale (ARSS), Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS), and Social Well-Being Scale (SWBS) were completed by participants. The results demonstrated that autonomous-related self moderate the relationship between narrative coherence and two types of well-being. In other words, as autonomous-related self-contrual level gets higher, the relationship between narrative coherence and psychological and social well-being becomes stronger. The current study proved the predictive value of both autonomy and relatedness for the relationship betwen narrative coherence and well-being. Keywords: Narrative Coherence, Psychological Well-Being, Social Well-Being, Autonomous-Related Self, Self Construals